One thing I’ve learned from the locals here in San Antonio is that summers are unbearably hot. Seems people here love to talk about their misery, and I cannot say how many times I’ve heard about last summer’s heat wave (I think 12 weeks straight over a hundred degrees, with high humidity, of course).
At Ironwood Camp in the Mojave desert, new counselors who come are often shocked at the heat. The counselors’ attitudes can make a significant difference in the attitude of the campers, so they have strict instructions not to draw attention to the heat. They are not allowed to use the word hot.
Why ever not, do you think? Not because of draconian leadership, but because the camp directors know that when a counselor shrugs off the weather and decides to have a good time with the campers, the campers are more likely to shrug off the weather and have a good time. Even something as simple as saying “It’s really hot out here” can begin to change the atmosphere from excitement to misery.
I have noticed this influence with my own children. My commenting on the weather seems to result in more complaining and whining from them. I can simply say, “Wow, it is hot out here” and my children start crying and whining the minute we leave the house. I began to realize that what felt like an innocent comment on the weather really was complaining itself.
So I’ve been experimenting. I explained to the children that the heat and humidity is the reason they see so many butterflies here. And the heat and the humidity is the reason for the particular ecosystem God created here. People enjoy the flowers and birds, not remembering that without the weather, those flowers and birds would be different. I’ve told them how silly this inconsistency is. Yes, it’s hot, I’ve told them. We do what we can to minimize the heat, like wearing hats, putting a blanket on Laurel’s car seat, and using car windshield shades. But I have also told them I’ve decided not to use the word hot when referring to the weather. I’ve been giving thanks for the heat and humidity (and not merely a cooler summer this year, or the blessing of an air conditioner). It has been good, not only helping my attitude, but also my children’s.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:14-15
Notice one result from obeying verse 14: a good testimony among unbelievers. Isn’t it amazing that something as simple as not complaining can be so powerful? Makes sense. Do we have a good God, or don’t we? When we complain, we’re telling the world that God isn’t good, nor is He powerful. Some testimony that is.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line[a] has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world. Psalm 19:1-3
The unbelief that results in complaining is a battle we all fight against, and I know that complaining isn’t going to go away simply by eliminating the word hot. Here is the question I’ve been thinking about, and one I want to ask my children today: What does the heat say about God’s character? I don’t think they’ll understand, but I want them to see this verse and understand that God’s creation reveals something about who he is.
I’m one of the several who warned about the heat, and I turned the point of this post over and over in my mind after reading last week. Paul and I talked it over, and we can’t agree that simply acknowledging the heat is in itself complaining. It’s a fact that this is one of the hottest areas in the country, after all! lol If I lived in North Dakota, or, Wisconsin, I would have to acknowledge and deal with the extreme seasons there…which would be cold.
This is our 9th summer, and although our children never even say “it’s hot” (possibly because it’s all they know), we seriously dislike it. But although it’s sometimes a source of comic relief during conversations with adults, we don’t complain about it in front of the kids, because it’s just the way it is. For us, it’s a way of life that we must transition into come mid-May until October, and unlike the Mojave Desert, one can’t plan daily activities outside until nearly sundown without endangering everyone’s health. lol (The heat continues peaking until around 5pm.) It’s the limitations I find difficult, really, not the oppressive heat itself. The planning and preparations just for shopping and cooking. It’s hard not to do what I want, when I want, right? 😀 I suppose, because I grew up living outdoors during the summers, there’s a certain element of sadness that my kids don’t have that experience. But as much as I like to not be sweaty, moderate temperatures are not an idol for me, and I did tell the Lord as a teenager that I’d go where He sent me…so here we are!!
And thanks to Hurricane Alex, we’ve had “cool” (only around 90F!) weather and overcast skies all week. We’ve made soup, played outside, and run errands in the middle of the day. Joy!
We’re just hoping He eventually agrees with our prayers to transplant us to the Pacific Northwest… 😉
Gina– I had actually written most of this post before our conversation, and I didn’t mean for it to sound like I had it all figured out. I agree with you that you can say “It’s hot” and not be complaining. I think I’ve commented about the wretched weather and not sinned, too. But… I’ve noticed that sometimes when I say “It’s hot” I’m expressing dissatisfaction with what God has given me, and I believe that is sin. Furthermore, when I simply say “It’s hot” (even righteously) my children start complaining. I want to avoid that. I didn’t ask to come to Texas, and once I told my husband it was the last place I wanted to learn to be content in. But, God has put me here, and I’m doing my best to understand this blessing. Coming to a new place and hearing everyone tell me how terrible it is doesn’t help me. What helps me the most is listening to people who are genuinely happy to be here and say why. They don’t deny that it’s hot, but that is not the main topic of conversation. (and I will say that discussing the heat wasn’t a large part of our too-short visit, either.) What got me started was the realization that I can sit in my air-conditioned house and watch a nature movie, admire the gorgeous plants and animals in the rain forest, and even give God the glory for them. But I know what the weather is like there, and I know that it’s not what I would consider comfortable. That’s when I started trying to understand that the weather that everyone complains about here is a part of the ecosystem that God created. He called it good. Yes, we do have to adjust our schedules to fit the weather, but that’s true in most places (Napa Valley, not so much!).
Yes, and yes!
It was helpful to see my own thoughts down in a comment (I haven’t had time to make it into a post!), and your post has stayed with me pretty much everyday because I am so easily dissatisfied. So silly! Such a good reminder. I’ve gone back and forth about so many things I tend to sigh over the last few days. You may have started a revival here. haha! I appreciate your way of getting to the real point of all of these issues – you are an encouragement to me, and you challenge me beyond my comfort zone.
I did have to giggle when I saw your quote of your remark to your husband. Naturally, I’d always assumed I’d end up in Africa, because of God’s keen sense of humor. And I try to remember that Texas is not Africa. (Tho it seems like it sometimes – hot, far away, and sorta foreign, but without the cool carvings you can buy from roadside vendors for cheap!)