As I sit here in a sunbathed room, I can see the colors beginning to change.  Squirrels have been actively storing up black walnuts from the tree in our front yard.  They’re so busy, it makes me wonder if they know something about the upcoming Minnesota winter.  I’m thinking, as I basking the luxury of 70 degrees with low dew points, how come parts of this beautiful country is under water, being consumed by wildfires, flooding and devastating winds.

An earthquake has rocked Mexico.  Mandatory evacuation has been issued for Southern Florida and Irma will follow through central Florida and possibly reach S. Carolina and Georgia.  Whether or not those places are affected by the destruction is unsure, but there undoubtedly will be side effects.

So I continue to sit here and wonder why.

I read the headlines and see that amidst all this turmoil, we still have other problems in our country and the world.  A maniacal leader is playing the role of the ‘mouse that roared’ and seems to be uncaring for his own population, those directly close to him and those he plans to destroy.  Doesn’t he realize, he will go up as collateral damage along with the rest of his people?

We have a congress that seems to know no other way than gridlock.  Decisions are being made based on next year’s election results and appealing to the voters, rather than for the good of the entire nation and future generations.

And I wonder why.

We have a president that has no more experience in government than his predecessor, yet he is a successful businessman who knows how to bring business to our country.  He has succeeded in keeping the stock market on an even keel.  He’s creating jobs.  He’s stirring the pot and making the corrupt in government squirm.  He’s exhibiting strength and making us look strong as a world leader.  He’s righting wrongs where they exist.  He’s cleaning up a lot of messes that were created in the last 20 years.  Still, those who hate him continue to find fault in everything he does.  They won’t cut him a bit of slack and tend to ramp up the negative and eliminate the positive things that are being done.

Still I wonder why.

Our cities are filled with corruption, violence, hatred, prejudice – all while we spent the last eight years trying to be tolerant of every thing and every kind of behavior.  The Ten Commandments have turned into the Ten Suggestions and even they have been deem offensive.

I wonder if all these signs are things Jesus was referring to in Matthew 16:2-3.

 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ ³ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

Maybe it’s time to stop wondering and start planning for eternity.