“O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt God above all forever” (Daniel 3:70).

Memphis doesn’t get ice and snow very often. So such winter weather sends many Memphians scurrying to the grocery stores to stock up on supplies (which for some reason means bread and milk). 
For folks on the streets, such a cold and dreary night means seeking refuge in the various shelters around town, or hunkering down with extra blankets and maybe a fire, under a bridge or in an abandoned building.
Manna House opened its doors this Monday morning at 6:45a.m. (We usually open at 8:00a.m.). One by one guests arrived with snow-covered shoes. Moses arrived with his Bible carefully covered with a plastic bag to protect from the still falling snow. Several guests also had snow on their backsides. “I fell five times,” one guest explained, “this ain’t no fun.”
The weather, not surprisingly, was the topic of much conversation.
“That ice is messed up.”
“This ain’t nothing compared to Colorado or Minnesota.”
“It’s cold enough to send a bear back into his cave.”
Some reminisced about sledding in the snow when they were kids.
“We’d take a piece of cardboard or garbage can covers, and down the hill we’d go.”
“The hill would end at the street and we’d hope to stop before heading into traffic.”
“Kids probably still doing the same thing we did years ago.”
There was plenty of time to talk before the coffee was ready. The warmth of the house made several sleepy and they nodded off while sitting on one of the couches.
Volunteers slowly started arriving with their own stories to tell of slippery roads or car doors that were hard to open because they were frozen shut. One volunteer walked all the way from Rhodes College. She got the “Volunteer of the Day” award.
By the time 8:00a.m. rolled around the house was full, with every available seat taken.
As the morning passed we gave out hats, gloves, and scarves to those who needed them. A few people needed shoes, and a few others needed coats. We were able to meet their needs.
It was a typical morning at Manna House. We gathered and shared what has been shared with us. We talked about the weather and sports and politics and religion. A few games of checkers were played. People showered and got freshly laundered clothes. Lots of hot coffee was served.
So, in the midst of the ice and snow, we enjoyed the blessings of this place; we felt together the grace of God, and we gave thanks.