Smelling Snow

 

Lo, one day, it so transpired that my family went to church, for, it was the first day of the week and on this day, we harnessed up Old Nellie, Hitched up the Buggy and wended our way to 5946 Brookneal Highway.  There we raised our voices in song and listened to a sermon and eventually departed for our Abode.

Upon arriving out our home, my eldest daughter sniffed the air and announced, “It smells like snow to me!”

This statement was greeted with much acclaim, for verily, we have had little Snow over the last two years and my children were Right Ready to see some of the crystalline water.

Elise also tested the aroma borne upon the chilly air and asked, “What does snow smell like?”

This was a difficult question to answer and after a feeble attempt, Anna saith that it was a difficult concept and well above the ability of a five-year old to understand.  And that, as the sages say, was that.

“The App that Predicteth weather on my phone does say we will get somewhere between 10 and 12 inches of snow,” I proclaimed, attempting to pour a layer of scientific knowledge over the situation.  This engendered even more excitement on the part of my children, as this seemed far more certain than my eldest daughter’s nose.

“I don’t know about that,” quoth my beautiful wife.  “The National Weather Service says one to two inches of a mixture of snow and sleet.  They are usually right.”

Upon entering our house, we proceeded to check upon the websites of AccuWeather, NOAA, and MSN Weather.  AccuWeather and NOAA gave the same dismal forecast of a bit of snow, followed close on by freezing rain.  On the other hand, MSN weather predicted heavy snow, 10 to 12 inches of shovel-ready white powder ready by morning!

I Knit my Brows so hard they almost turned into a pair of socks, wondering which of these, Very Different forecasts to believe.  I finally decided to do a little research.  It turned out that MSN Weather was using Artificial Intelligence combined with data to predict worldwide weather.  It had even won Awards for being accurate.  On the other hand, the National Weather Service simply used meteorologists, satellites, and radar to make their predictions.  Very Old School indeed.

The choice was Clear.  MSN Weather was Better.  Beyond that, I wanted at least 8 or 9 inches of snow and so I chose to believe that Bill Gates’ Brain Child was correct.

All through the afternoon I monitored the situation.  It began Promising Enough with large white flakes falling from the sky.  Soon the ground was covered with a thin layer of snow, but then, Alas, the falling snow changed to a cold rain that froze on the ground and the trees.

Checking MSN Weather, it continued to confidently say that at this given moment, Heavy Snow was falling on Gladys.  The only problem was that I had only to poke my head out the door to see that the site was Plum Wrong. 

So, it went.  The following morning, MSN Weather stated that the Gladys area had received a sum total of 8.79 inches of snow in the preceding twenty-four hours when we had gotten perhaps a half inch of snow and another half inch of freezing rain.

So much for Artificial Intelligence.

It is challenging these days to discern who to believe when the sources of knowledge share such disparate opinions.  Solomon said, “In the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14) I wonder how he would have dealt with the internet and the Multitude of Experts who reside there.

I imagine that, as with the kings of old, most of us simply seek out counselors who confirm our opinions. 

Even pastors are not exempt, for, it is often easier to explain away the hard things of the Gospel – the need to give unstintingly to the needy, to love enemies, and live with moral purity – than to attempt to live them.  So it is, that people gravitate to teachers who tell them what they wish to hear – that God loves them and there is no need to change.

Mayhap most of us would do better simply reading the Scripture ourselves and trying to apply it to our lives.  For those who search for the forecast they want may find it, but like as not, they will still end up with a half inch of snow and a half inch of ice when all is said and done.