Snow Shovels and Leaf Blowers

by   February 8, 2026 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

What do you get when you borrow three snow shovels and bring out your gas-powered leaf blower (aka a red-neck snow blower)? Well, when the conditions are right, you get a block party!

Normally, our family observes Sundays as the Sabbath. We gather for worship with our church, enjoy a lunch at home, and then rest and refresh before another busy week. Work completed on this day is that which displays care for others or an “ox in the ditch” situation (see Luke 14:5). While we own no oxen nor do we have ditches as part of our landscape, the snowpocalypse that greeted us on Saturday left many of our neighbors, particularly those with shaded, steep driveways, in a fix.

While one of my sons and I were making our way back from a long winter walk, we saw several neighbors out, making the most of the sunshine while clearing driveways of the fluffy white stuff, thankful that most of it was not yet compact and hardened (icy!). One set of neighbors had three of the most beautiful things (well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the right setting) – three glorious snow shovels! What a novelty in the South, where dirt spades work only marginally better at snow removal on a driveway than the garden shovels adorning most garages and tool sheds. Our neighbors down the street had borrowed snow shovels from their next-door neighbors, who, in turn, loaned them to us.

At 2 p.m., something glorious occurred in our cul-de-sac –  as other neighbors came out to thaw and began making the most of their garden shovels, a gathering of sorts appeared. Children came out to run around, make giant snow bases for snowmen with some of the adults, or to help shovel a neighbor’s driveway, even if only for five minutes. Teens had a chance to flex their muscles by shoveling in record time (thanks to the lightness of the snow!) and use their brains by repurposing the gas-powered leaf blower to clear out paths. Adults connected with some neighbors for the first time, while others reconnected. Babies were held and made over, and even the pups relished the freedom of socializing. All the hustle, bustle, and movement helped stamp down much of the cul-de-sac in a more delightful way than a snowplow!

After almost two hours of work, play, and socializing, neighbors returned the shared shovels, shook hands, and offered thanks – not just for the tools and muscles, but also the impromptu block-party that was much needed. After all, we are Southerners, not accustomed to consecutive weekends of isolation (at least, not the sort we don’t choose for ourselves).

Sometimes, the burdens we can lighten as acts of Sabbath mercy and care are piles of snow on driveways. And sometimes hospitality is shown less through soups and sweet treats (which I’m all for, and receive gratefully!) and more through snow shovels and leaf blowers being shared in the cul-de-sac.

Finding Forgiveness in Snow

by   February 7, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Finding Forgiveness in Snow

I stayed up late on Friday night waiting for the snow to arrive. I gave up in the wee hours of the morning. I woke up to the light at my window and had to see if it was snowing. The ground was white. I retreated to bed for a couple more hours sleep and then I got up filled with joy as I watched it snow all day. I continued watching it snow into the wee hour of Sunday morning. I measured 14.5 inches at nine o’clock, so I figured we ended up close to 16.

            I had a great time all day texting friends and family to see what was happening in different places. The winter wonderland the snow created was breath-taking. I dressed warmly and went out midday and took some beautiful pictures. I also made a snow angel, only to discover it is hard getting up from the ground at my age. 

            I went out for a few nice walks after the snow. I like to walk out and check the main roads and see how people are getting around. One of the things I noticed is that everybody who drove by waved. Snow gives you the feeling that we are all in this together.

Today as I look out my window, the sun is shining brightly on the snow. So brightly, in fact, that I have to wear sunglasses when I go for a walk. I don’t know if you have noticed before, but the snow actually twinkles various colors as it refracts the sunlight, similar to a rainbow. It is beautiful and it can help us quiet ourselves so we can spend some extra time with the Lord.

            Another thing we should think about as we look out at the snow is how pure and clean it makes the landscape. We know that snow helps to clean the atmosphere. Hidden within the snow is the dust and dirt it cleans away. In much the same way, the Bible teaches us that the blood of Christ makes us whiter than snow. Our sin is like the dirt in the atmosphere that separates us from God, but the blood of Jesus washes us clean and makes us reflect the glory of God. We are cleaner, whiter, and brighter than snow.

            With this comes the knowledge of our forgiveness. No matter what you have done, the blood of Christ can make you whiter than snow. You can be forgiven and God can even take away the guilt of your sin. He can make you free. He can make you bright and clean. Knowing, living, and walking in God’s love and forgiveness can change our lives forever.

            The important thing is that God wants us to share this with our neighbors. There are so many people in this world who are weighed down with sin and the guilt of their failures. God doesn’t want them to live that way. God wants them to know that if they would simply ask, they could be made as white as snow. They could walk free from their past. All their mistakes wiped way by the blood of Jesus. Then they can know the deep love of God.

            Snow is God’s reminder that we need to share this great news with our neighbors. Our neighbors could be the people who live around us, our co-workers, the people we know at the businesses we frequent, or even the people we meet while waiting in line at the store. We have a saying in our church: Mission is everywhere. People need to hear the good news of God’s love.

I keep looking out the window, distracted by the snow-covered ground. The sun’s rays sparkle like magic off the snow. Kids, dogs, and bearded old men treasure the wonder and beauty of it all. I keep looking at the snow, finding myself wanting to encourage you to open your heart to God’s perfect love and allow it to cleanse you from anything that would hold you back from Him. Then I want to encourage you to share that love and forgiveness with the people in your life. God wants a relationship with every human being. We can be the conduit through which they can discover how to connect with God. It’s our mission, it’s our purpose. God has forgiven you and made you whiter than snow. His peace and comfort are available to all who will reach out to receive it. His love and faithfulness are everlasting. I encourage you to reflect God’s glory so that the lost can find their way home.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

The Inheritance

by   February 6, 2026 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

My beloved mom-in-law passed away a few weeks ago. She was such a beautiful soul. And funny… oh my word! The things she would come up with. She had special names for certain things in her life; like the big white robe she wore in the winter. Often she warned us not to be alarmed if we saw a polar bear ambling around her house as it was just Big Bertha.

When she could no longer walk with just the assistance of a cane, she began using a walker with a seat. It had a little basket where she would load her gardening tools as she puttered around the yard. Inside the house she would load it with cleaning supplies or laundry for that long trip down the hall. She dubbed it her “Cadillac.”

She had a pink blouse which she always wore to the doctor. More accurately it was mauve, that dusty rose color which was popular in the eighties. Her daughters tried every way they could to get her to wear something besides that awful shirt as it did her no favors. However she always went back to it. Though mauve is code for ugly, she brightened it with her smile.

We’ve begun cleaning out her home of over fifty years. You can’t even imagine the treasures we’re gleaning. So far we’ve only gotten to the kitchen. We checked expiration dates on the foods in the pantry and laughed so hard at the things she hung onto. David suggested that if the date began with the words “In the year of our Lord,” we could probably assume it was too old to consume. In the back of one especially low cabinet was an unidentifiable figure. It appeared to be a dried corpse of an animal from yesteryear. David’s sister bravely pushed it into the floor with a broom. The four of us stood hovering over it trying to make out what it could have been. David finally scooped it up with the dustpan and took it outside. It was larger than a squirrel and had a funky shape. The sisters told me I could have it as part of my inheritance. I was more than thrilled.

Later as I thought again about the dried up mystery animal, I remembered bringing Nina some driftwood from the beach many years ago. She had expressed wanting a piece to put a little ceramic bird on that I had brought her the year before. Apparently the two treasures never met as she always had lots of projects in the works. In fact that bird is probably buried somewhere in her craft room which our middle daughter lovingly renamed Nanny’s Crap Room. It is an accurate description and we can hardly wait to go through the treasures there.

What I love about Nina’s kids, Jo, Gail, and David, is that they’ve been able to maintain their mother’s great sense of humor as we do the necessary things. No pushing, grabbing, or resentment; just working together to honor their mother’s last wish of having a happy home. The closest we’ve come to fighting so far has been over a pack of bacon.

Very graciously I have been included in the dividing of assets. Along with the driftwood shaped like a varmint, I’ve been given her cement pineapple which was always her southern symbol of hospitality. Though I do not share that same sentiment, I love that she did. I tucked it by my side entrance behind a large hosta lest anyone get the wrong idea. You know how I feel about entertaining visitors I do not know. All you “angels unaware” might as well fly on down the street to someone more Godly. However, if you do happen to knock on my door, don’t be surprised if I’m wearing a mauve shirt. Too bad it didn’t come with Nina’s sweet smile.

43 Version of Winter Flight

by   February 5, 2026 with No Comments

By David Freeze

The 43rd Version of Winter Flight is Just Ahead

  We have three more weeks to prepare for the Forum Fitness Winter Flight races, and it will take every bit of that time to get it right. More planning goes into this weekend of events than any other month of races. There is a longstanding level of quality and history that pushes us hard to get it right. Winter Flight is usually a destination race with many states represented.

    Winter Flight’s 8K is the signature event and is the oldest race of that distance in the state, and it is also the Road Runners Club of America North Carolina State Championship 8K. The Forum is back for the second year as Title Sponsor, leading the effort of about 45 other sponsors in support of the runners, walkers and event proceeds recipient Rowan Helping Ministries, another long-time fixture.

    February 1st is race day, once again with three different distances to suit all levels of competitors and family members too. The first race at 1:30pm is the fun run, a half-mile distance on the Shuford Stadium track. That is two laps and open to anyone, regardless of age and gender, and is free. Then at 1:58pm, the wheelchair competitors roll off from the starting line. Many of the riders are handicapped and compete as part of Ainsley’s Angels.

    At 2pm, all 5K (3.1 miles) and 8K (4.97 miles) runners and walkers hit the pavement. The 8K typically is the more competitive race and those state overall awards will be fought for along with plenty of top three age group medals. Both 8K course records are owned by Olympians and the historic course typically draws several runners each year with hopes of breaking those records.

     The 5K is less competitive and the course is considered much faster with a net downhill in the last half of the race. We’ll have more info on notable runners as the race gets closer.

    Rowan Helping Ministries will have a big volunteer presence at the event. Early on, Winter Flight was organized by the Greater Salisbury Track Club, the forerunner to the current Salisbury Rowan Runners. In 1981, the first race using the name Winter Flight was actually a 5K distance. Then in 1984, the real Winter Flight race was born, with 5-mile and 10-mile races in the downtown and Salisbury High School area.  In 1986, Winter Flight moved to Catawba College. I remember some talk about why this was done, but except for the 2021 substitution event in Millbridge, the historic 8K has continued to use the Catawba start and finish except for the one year while the new stadium was being refurbished and the track was not accessible.       

    Also in 1986, Winter Flight became part of the Tar Heel Tour, a series of varied distance races over a year’s time that resulted in individual state championships by overall and 10-year age groups.  1989 brought a six-week delay for the local measles epidemic. Course record holders, both Olympians, set lofty standards for future runners. In 1988, Hans Koeleman of the Netherlands set the men’s standard of 23 minutes and 34 seconds. Joan Nesbitt of Tarboro set the women’s mark of 26.48 in 1992.  The 1996 event was postponed due to heavy snowfall. In 2002, the National Guard was the title sponsor of Winter Flight and provided a very special memory for me. As club president, I got to fly to Catawba College in a Blackhawk helicopter with an airborne capability demonstration of the craft along the way. We landed on the football field alongside Apache and Ranger helicopters. Humvees and Bradley fighting vehicles were also on hand. At race start, three Blackhawks flew over just as the starting pistol was fired.  My most challenging day as a race director came at the 2005 Winter Flight when heavy snowfall began to fall on the evening before the race. With internet communication in infant status, a group of SRR members divided the massive participant list and called every single registrant with updates and an eventual postponement.  The races continue with a mix of serious and competitive runners along with those who enjoy being around like-minded health-conscious runners and walkers. The February 1st races offer something for runners and walkers of all capabilities. Look for more information at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org or by calling 704-310-6741. Each 8K and 5K participant will get another in the series of the amazing Meredith Abramson-designed hoodies and the first time finisher’s die-cast medal.

   Next week, we’ll talk more about the races and the SRR Annual Meeting, pasta dinner and packet pickup on January 31st. I will profile keynote speaker Charlotte Corriher and more. Mark your calendars for all of this.

Gotta’ Run: The 43rd version of Winter Flight is just ahead

Feeling of Falling

by   February 4, 2026 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

Feeling of Falling?

Normally I select the title of my column after I write it, but this one fell in line immediately. I was following my grandchildren around the backyard where there is a treehouse, a trampoline, a sandbox, a hammock, very wet muddy terrain. I was the only one who slipped and face planted on the ground. A day later, I lived to write this column and can add to my diagnosis that my neck hurts. Falling is hard at age ???  Hmm. I cannot remember my age! A concussion from the fall,  perhaps?

In case you are have not fallen lately, I will fill you in on the details. Falling is an uncontrolled interruption of balance, resulting in a descent toward the ground. When you begin to fall, finding a way to brace your fall can help. However, it was my head that braced my fall. My involuntary response apparently was to dirt plant my head. When you fall, you may stay in the spot where you fell until someone helps you get up. My first words were, “HELP! I hit my head.” The family members accompanying me got me to a sitting position on the ground, and did not laugh until they were sure I was okay.

Twenty four hours later, my head and entire body still hurt.

 Is that sympathy or laughter I hear resounding throughout the pages of the newspaper as you read this?

Consider this: London Bridge fell. Elvis Presley couldn’t help falling in love with me. Adam and Eve fell. David fell prey to temptation. Ann Farabee fell. That list puts me in a fairly special group.

Our body reflexes prepare our muscular and skeletal system for the imminent collision that comes with a fall. Our arms instinctively go toward the falling surface so we can catch ourselves. Although that sounds helpful, the help from my arms was minimal.

 Looking back over my life, I suppose I fell often, especially on the school playground.

I failed often, too. I still do.

Failing or falling is hard.

But, as hard as it sounds – falling or failing isn’t final.

As I was falling, there was no way to stop it. I could soften the blow a bit, but I was still falling.

As my fall onto the ground was becoming a reality –  I quickly put my best ‘bracing the fall’ technique into practice. That technique was to cry out, “Lord help me!”

I felt: Helpless. Hopeless. Unsafe. Unprotected.

A month later – I am still a pain in the neck.

NO! That was a typo!

I meant to say that I still have a pain in the neck.

The Lord upholds ALL that fall. Psalm 145:14

The Lord will never forsake us.

Realistically speaking, isn’t falling just another way to fly?

Psalm 37:23 -The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way.

God Shows Up

by   February 2, 2026 with No Comments

By Susan Berry

God did an amazing thing today for me.

For weeks now I have been crying out to God about an answer to prayer that has not come. I’ve been praying for years, shedding countless tears. I told God last week, ” I can’t even pray about this anymore. I’m exhausted and the words won’t come” Then of course the enemy came and tried to tell me what a terrible Christian I am for not steadfastly praying. As I rebuked that lie and let out one last gut wrenching sigh to God, I went to rest and be still.

Yesterday, I was led to reach out to the daughter of a dear friend of mine. This friend taught me about the Holy Spirit after I met Jesus a few months earlier in 1984. My friend passed away about ten years ago but I have kept in touch with her precious daughter who was in a youth ministry I volunteered for and she babysat with my sons occasionally. Today she replied to my message I sent and said God had led her to pray for the thing I wasn’t able to pray for anymore. She knew nothing about my prayers and I got the impression the leading came as a surprise to her also.

God raised up a prayer partner for me without my even knowing or asking. Just when I thought God didn’t hear me or see me, He proved me wrong and flooded me with love. This lady also told me she was going to reach out to me a while ago because she needed someone to talk to but God kept saying, “Not yet”. God knew HIS timing was best. When I felt alone, hopeless and like my prayers were just vapor evaporating before reaching Gods ear, He sent the Holy Spirit to prompt another child of God to intercede on my behalf.

Don’t give up! Don’t surrender! And don’t be dismayed, for God is with you always!!

Romans 8:27 NIV

 “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

Treasures in the Snow

by   February 1, 2026 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

Before bed last Saturday night, my youngest son was preparing for the worst, which would have been an ideal scenario in his little mind. Visions of a house lit by candles or lanterns, board games adorning the tables, perhaps a pop-up tent in the living room by the fireplace. We had prepped him for no snow, just ice, and he seemed okay with that. Needless to say, he (and I) were delighted to see enough snow to cover our roads, trace amounts on the yard, and enough in the backyard that it is still hanging around waiting for another snow, as the old wives’ tale goes. We did not lose power, much to his dismay, but there were still plenty of adventures and treasures that awaited us on Sunday.

Early Sunday morning, before I could tell them to double-layer, my youngest ones were out with plastic sleds to ride in our backyard. We have a small collection of barely-used sleds, like any NC flatlander may have acquired from yard sales of downsizing households in our area. Thus, we are set to be the heroes of the neighborhood, at least among the youngest neighborlings. They quickly set off toward one of the better hills, and as I trudged through the icy-covered snow, I noticed a gathering of neighbors we already knew as well as some we had been neighbors with for years, but never met. Neighbors shared sleds, hot cocoa from a thermos, and some electric hand warmers – each family contributing in some way to group fun.

We opened our household to welcome families for more cocoa, treats, soup, and conversation as little tykes (and big ones!) continued sledding in the backyard. Eventually, as families returned to their respective homes, I noticed a couple of teens and a tween missing from my brood. After touching base with the neighbors about the kids, we realized that some of mine were missing in action. It’s an easy thing to do, to get caught up in something as novel as our rare winter storms in search of the perfect hill, and join in with another adventurous family you know. Because many were in Sabbath mode, the idea of carrying mobile phones around the neighborhood did not seem necessary to either my teens or other neighbor adults enjoying the day. As a result, I, along with two other mothers, set out to find my wayward children. After searching all the cul-de-sacs and good hills, we learned we had just missed them, and sure enough, they were in the care of one of the best neighborhood families that we know and love. All was well. The worry that could have absorbed me had I trekked alone, looking over hill and street, was assuaged because I didn’t have to walk alone, consumed with catastrophizing thoughts.

The treasure of the weekend was not a thick layer of fluffy snow or even (at least in my son’s eyes) getting to survive a power outage. We did not get to gather in person with our church family. Yet, we did find other treasures – Bible study together, forging new relationships, and strengthening other bonds with friends and neighbors. Sometimes treasures are waiting in the midst of storms – even the icy ones. 

God’s Got it All in Control

by   January 31, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

God’s Got it All in Control

            Did anyone else struggle with anxiety over last week’s ice storm? I follow storms, especially winter storms and hurricanes, very closely. I try to keep up on the trends and what is expected. I follow trusted meteorologists as well as studying the models personally and try to understand the guidance the meteorologists give related to the storms.

            Honestly, I am not sure how meteorologists do their jobs because the models come in with such conflicting information. One predicts snow, another ice, another rain, and still another a dry day. How do they develop their forecasts from that information? I have great empathy for them as they strive to inform us. As one meteorologist recently pointed out, only God knows the future and they are trying to guess what God is doing.

            The anxiety I was struggling with wasn’t solely centered around the potential ice storm and the worry over the loss of power and the many inconveniences that we would all encounter as a result. There are other worries going on in our family that are out of my control. All this was distracting me and keeping my mind focused elsewhere rather than on God, who has us all in His hands.

            When we take our eyes off of God and put them on our circumstances then our circumstances feel bigger than God. In a way, I think that is what happened to Peter when he was walking on the water. Jesus told Peter he could come out of the boat and walk on the water to Him. Peter stepped out in faith and had his eyes focused on Jesus. The trouble was that as Peter was successfully walking on the water towards Jesus he somehow took his eyes off Jesus. That’s when his mind took over and told Peter he couldn’t walk on water. Peter looked at the storm and the big waves and he believed his circumstances instead of trusting what Jesus told him. He started to sink because his eyes were on the wrong things.

            We all face stressful circumstances. We all have things we can worry about. We all have things that can make us anxious. We all have things that are beyond our control. Where are our eyes in those moments? Are we focusing on the things and circumstances or on God?  We choose where we focus.  

Sometimes things work out and all our worry, stress, and anxiety were unnecessary. What do we do when things don’t work out? The ice storm hits and we lose power. We get in a car accident. We get hurt while working. Our bills are greater than our income. We have to go to the hospital. What do we do in those moments when things feel out of control? We are looking for God, but like Peter, find ourselves sinking.

            I believe that Peter was completely immersed in the water but Jesus reached down and pulled him up. I also believe that Peter walked on the water back to the boat. His eyes were back on Jesus and His faith restored. I believe the same thing applies to us. We take our eyes off Jesus and things around us seem to fall apart. The circumstances overwhelm us. Then along comes Jesus, who was there all the time, and He picks us up. 

            When everything seems to be going wrong… When life comes at us from every direction… When we feel overwhelmed… What do we do? Where are our eyes? This is hard. This is when our faith gets tested. Do we believe God is in control when circumstances look different than we expect? King David writes over and over about very similar circumstances. He looks around at his circumstances and cries out to God, “Where are you?” But then, and this is very important, he takes his eyes off the circumstances and puts them back on God. He declares the goodness of God, the faithfulness of God, the mercy of God, the kindness of God, and the love of God. He reminds himself of God’s faithfulness in the past and tells himself that God will come through for him again in his present circumstances.

            I want to encourage you to remind yourself that God is in control. I know, sometimes it doesn’t look that way. We don’t understand. But we, like David, have to remind ourselves of God’s goodness and faithfulness. God promises to never leave us or forsake us. There will be moments when we have to trust Him. I want to assure you God’s got it all in control. Rest in Him. Trust in Him. And let His peace guard your heart and mind.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

A Frozen Week

by   January 30, 2026 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

For the past week I have been housebound because the heavy snow storm and its wind left a pile of snow on the back ramp, which I use to enter and exit our house. Over the past eight days of freezing temperatures the pile became a large ice mass. But my friend Shawn came yesterday and cut it into pieces that now jam an unused corner of our yard. This morning the sun shines on our back garden across a bright winter-blue sky, and when the warmth of day increases just a bit, I will venture out with Nick the beagle and ramble about the garden.

It may seem odd to think of warm weather when ice blocks occupy one part of my world, but I saw a reminder of it yesterday out a back window—a pair of doves sat together on a limb of the center dogwood tree before one mounted the other. It’s the middle of January, so I  don’t know for sure about their act, but it is a fresh reminder that, yes, the days are getting longer and warmer. But I remind myself that, no matter what the doves were doing, Shawn’s labor freed me from my housebound sentence, so Nick and I will shortly roam about our back garden.

Even in morning cold, the garden is busy with bird life. A blue bird inspects the entry hole of the birdbox on the center dogwood tree before realizing that the hole is too small, and a brown headed nuthatch moves about the tree trunk looking for day’s first offering. On a high branch a Carolina chickadee basks in morning’s sunlight filtering through the pine canopy.

However, my “play date” with Nick did not materialize because Mary Ann and I decided to get out of the house and go to a favorite flea market. We enjoyed the shared outing and returned in time to take a long walk with Nick on which he met and impressed some neighbors we did not know.

The day did not go as I had planned; but it proved to be an adventure of sorts and that is what matters at its end. That is one of the many sweet spots of life—there are the possibilities for the coming day and for tomorrow and for the next day and so on. After all, Mary Ann, Nick, and I shared parts of the day and we will tomorrow. It’s the way our days go since we were adopted by this beagle. And in the sharing is the joy.

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