June 26

Written by Bill Grandi on June 26th, 2024

Remember Groundhog Day?

No, not the day Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) is supposed to be able to accurately predict the weather. The folklore goes like this: if he sees his shadow and returns to his hole we are supposed to have 6 more weeks of winter-like weather.  If he doesn’t see his shadow we are supposed to have an early spring. As I said it is folklore, and I personally put no stock in it, especially “since when can the weatherman can predict the weather” according to Doc Brown.

I’m speaking more of the movie where Bill Murray’s character (Phil) is stuck in the same day over and over. Have you ever felt like you have lived this day before?

In March of 2023 an EF-3 tornado tore through McCormick’s Creek State Park and destroyed the camping sites. The tornado never landed but the vortex created by the winds sucked everything up and out and threw trees and campers around like they were toys. As chaplain for the Owen County Sheriff’s Department I was a witness to the destruction. The tornado did land just outside of Spencer and destroyed homes, farm equipment, and everything in its path.  On June 25, 2023 another weather event went through Spencer that included huge hail and damaging winds.  I was visiting in a hospital outside Indy and never encountered it, until I got back home and saw the destruction to the trees, landscape, cars (wife and daughter’s and others) and the house (it put a hole through the roof and went into the attic) and fence.  Remember that date: June 25.

Yesterday was June 25, 2024. Guess what happened? Well…not quite the destructive weather event but it had the potential of being one.  Fortunately, all we experienced were high winds, rain that came down so hard it was scary, thunder and lightning, and a power outage that lasted about 5-6 hours. Earlier in the day, on our way back from St. Louis, Tami reminded me of the hail storm we had one year ago on June 25th. It came up on her memories on Facebook (whatever that means).  🙂

Memories are good…sometimes. Sometimes being reminded of things is not only good, but essential. This morning I was reading Psalm 106. The psalmist is in a reminiscent mood and he is reminding his readers of the history involving the people of Israel, starting with their escape from Egypt. Throughout the chapter he reminds his readers how God came through for them but how unfaithful they were. His purpose? “Save us, O Lord our God! Gather us back from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.” (Verse 47- NLT)

Remembering is good, especially when it comes to remembering the goodness of God. THAT we must never forget! Take some time today to remember God’s goodness.

One more thing: can we just skip June 25 next year? 🙂

 

8 Comments so far ↓

  1. I will remember God’s goodness in the past and all His blessings. Some memories are more than worth keeping.
    Blessings, Bill!

  2. Wow, Bill! I think you better find a bomb shelter to hide in on June 25th from now on! Haha! Those types of events sure are memorable but not ones we want to relive!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      That has been suggested…by Tami. 🙂 Reliving those events are not high on priority list either!

  3. Ryan S. says:

    Thanks for the reminder on remembering 🙂
    It is good to reflect and remember the goodness of God. I even reflect occasionally on the storms of my past and remember that I have come through those as well. It helps to remember those past storms so we are not overwhelmed by present and future storms.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      You are welcome for the reminder. 🙂 I also do that same Ryan. I will sometimes stop and reflect on how God has been faithful in the past and has never allowed me to sink.

  4. gail says:

    Psalm 106 reminds us of how much grumbling and complaining we do, when we do not get our way. We can point fingers at the Israelites, and claim we are different, however we are not. I want to refocus my thought patterns, when things are tuff, or uncomfortable, I want to still see how good God really is. I want to reflect on all the times, God was patient, loving, graceful, merciful, and remember God’s promises. We serve an amazing God, who loves us, beyond measure. I want to focus on God’s promise of
    1 Corinthians 2:9 I want my love for God, to reflect back to God in such a deep way, that I make God smile.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      You are right Gail. It is a good reminder to how much we grumble. It is important to take our eyes off ourselves and our circumstances and focus on the goodness of God.