…”The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night”.

1 Thessalonians 5:2

It was a warm, sunny day in late January although it felt more like April. My little dog, Gracie and I took off for a walk in the park.

Afterwards we sat on the front porch soaking in the sun without a care in the world. What a perfect day with perfect weather.

In a matter of hours, the ground was covered in a thick blanket of snow with more coming down in a steady pace. It continued on through the day and night piling up in drifts and making driving hazardous. How could the weather change so quickly and so dramatically in a matter of hours?

Welcome to New Mexico folks where the weather is ever changing. I’ve heard it said many times if you don’t like the weather, just wait a bit and it will change.

Now prayers are answered as the sun is shining once more, the snow is melting, and the dry ground is receiving much-needed moisture. The snow will melt and the storm will become another memory. However, other storms will come and go and life goes on.

People, especially farmers know about the seasons and base their planting and harvesting accordingly. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1) The people already knew that spring follows winter followed by summer and fall. From the beginning of time they experienced the seasons in the same order. However, there was much they didn’t know about or could even control when it came to their crops.

It is easy to become complacent with our lifestyles. Just as the seasons change on schedule, so we think our life will follow the same path. We aren’t prepared as we should be in the event of a disaster. Recently, I asked my Sunday school class what they would take with them if they had less than 15 minutes to leave their home. The answers included family, pets, family pictures, and important papers. However, what if they didn’t have 15 minutes?

The recent earthquake in Haiti proves how quickly a person’s life can change, or in this case, an entire nation. Earthquakes are nothing new, but I believe this earthquake caught everyone’s attention. It was a wakeup call for us all.

Before Jesus was crucified, He told his disciples that no one, except his father knew when Jesus would come again. In Matthew 24, He said gave them some warning signs to look for which included wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in many parts of the world.

Does this mean the world is coming to an end? Who knows? Does this mean we need to be ready for the end of the world? You bet! Our recent snowstorm came quickly, but Jesus’ second coming will come in the twinkling of an eye. Are you ready?

Debra Whittington is a long time Tucumcari resident. Contact hem at

dawhittinton@msn.com