It looks like we dodged the storm down here in L.A. (Lower Alabama). Much of our nation is caught in the grip of more snow and ice than they’ve seen in a while. That includes part of the northern end of Alabama, especially the northwest corner. I am praying for all of those who have been, or will be, impacted. I give thanks that this one missed us down here.
I’m also remembering the one that didn’t miss us. We called it The Winter Storm of ’93. Some even call it The Blizzard of ’93. It was as close as we’ve come to having a blizzard in this part of the country.
The snow began to fall on Friday, March 12. By that time of the year, we are usually looking for springtime, not a snow storm. We lived in Rainbow City, where I served as pastor of White Springs Baptist Church. Ron, our youth minister, was planning a retreat for the coming summer. He and one of the church members had gone out to Arkansas to tour a campground for a possible destination for the retreat. They started back home on that Friday, bringing the snowstorm with them. They made it as far as the northwest side of Alabama, on Highway 72, when their car had gone as far as it could go. They were stuck in the snow in the middle of nowhere. They couldn’t see a house or anyone anywhere.
As they debated whether to try to walk for help or hunker down in the car and try to wait it out, they saw the lights of a truck approaching. It was a big four-wheel drive that pulled right up to them. The driver got out and walked up to their car. When Ron rolled down his window, the man looked inside and shocked them when he said, “Ron, is that you?” It turned out that he and Ron had gone to school together. He said, “I only live a mile or so from here. Jump in my truck and y’all can stay with us until you can travel again.”
As it turned out, that would be several days from then. They spent the following days around a fireplace, playing cards and eating homemade chili and soup. Some might say that was a lucky coincidence that an old friend on the other side of the state happened along to find the stranded travelers. Ron said he thought his old classmate might have been an angel that day. No doubt, I would say that they were not only rescued by the hand of a friend, but by the grace of God! It is quite likely they could have frozen to death out there had he not found them.
Back in Rainbow City, Jean, Ashley and I hunkered down in our home around our open fireplace. Five-year-old Ashley was sick with strep. When the snow finally stopped falling, I measured 16 inches in our backyard, with some drifts that were almost waist deep. We were without electricity and central heat for three or four days. We pulled out a hide-a-bed that was in the room with the fireplace. Since we had an electric oven and stove, we couldn’t cook on it, so we cooked in the fireplace. We made soup and baked potatoes. I think we even popped popcorn in the fireplace. When I was a boy, I would have called that “adventure living!” Adventurous or not, I certainly don’t want to do that again!
I’m praying you all made it safely through this latest round of crazy weather! I’m also looking forward to spring!
Bill King can be reached at bkpreach@yahoo.com or 334-728-5514 (office).
