Dear Weather Channel,
I do not live in El Segundo, California. Not even close. Probably won’t even visit. So, please stop showing me local weather forecasts for El Segundo. I’m sure many wonderful people live there, but I’m not one of them.
Thank you,
A Weather Junkie
Yes, I’m ever so slightly irritated right now because the satellite T.V./computer system that delivers local forecasts to my house via The Weather Channel is malfunctioning. Not a big deal, but annoying.
We have a T.V. in our bathroom, a piece of trivia I am somewhat embarrassed to share with you. In fact, when we built our house and my husband had the master bath wired for T.V., I thought he was nuts. But I’ve discovered that I like being able to turn on the Weather Channel to catch the forecast as I’m getting ready to start my day. It’s part of my morning routine.
Or it was, before somebody decided I lived in El Segundo, California.
This techno-glitch began last winter. We were having wet and cold weather here in South Carolina, so I was baffled when I saw that the current temperature, according to The Weather Channel, was 65 degrees and the forecast called for sunny skies and balmy temps.
I looked out my window. Yep, steady rain. I stuck my head out the door. Yep, it was real cold.
“Wow, the Weather Channel sure missed it this time,” I thought. “Must be a fluke.”
On closer inspection, I noticed that my “local” forecast was for zip code 90245.
Now, it seems to be stuck. We get only local forecasts for El Segundo and it still confuses me every morning.
I could simply not tune into The Weather Channel, but what can I say? I’m a creature of habit, especially in the mornings before my brain is powered up. So, I turn on the T.V. for my forecast and then I go a little nuts. Every time the announcer comes on with, “And now, your ‘Local on the 8s,’” I want to throw my hairbrush at the T.V. and yell, “No, we don’t HAVE any ‘Local on the 8’s’ anymore!”
There’s a lesson to be learned here, beyond the fact that if this is the only problem I have, I don’t have any real problems: Nothing makes much sense, and we sure can’t know what’s up ahead, if we don’t know the truth about where we are.
The Bible tells Christians that this world is not our real home, not our zip code. “For our citizenship is in heaven,”If we forget that, a lot of things become very confusing–the pain in the world, the pain in our lives, perspectives and predictions about our future.
I have put my faith in Jesus Christ and I have a new zip code. My feet may be planted here, but my hope is in heaven.
I need to be aware, compassionate and responsive to this world’s problems, but fearful? No. Hopeless? Never.
God’s forecasts are the only ones that really matter and ultimately, things are looking better than good for those who belong to Him.