It is a blistering 10 degrees above zero (F) with a wind
chill that takes your breath away. As I was driving home fighting the wind with
the wheel of my car, I disdainfully started to spout what the weather people
always say… “Today’s temperatures are below average.” What exactly does that mean? It’s cold, it’s winter, it’s January in Maine , and we are bound
to get a wicked cold snap. And wicked it is; if Hell is going to freeze, it
could happen over the next few days. I know this because I live in Purgatory (I
kid you not) and it’s freezing here.
So, I just wonder if when the weather folks tell us we are
going to have above average temperatures they are trying to make us feel better
about winter and when they say below average, they’re simply reinforcing reality.
I looked up how to calculate average temperatures and you take the high and low
temperatures, add them together then divide it by two. Now I know this sounds
simple and probably not totally accurate but from what I read I've decided the
statement “today’s temperatures are {fill in the blank} average” means very
little to me.
So much of what we are given for information is filtered and
spun a certain way. As with everything in life, perspective and attitude makes
a difference. I’m not saying averages aren't interesting, but life similar to
daily temperatures has highs and lows, which when averaged doesn't paint an
overly accurate picture. Rarely do I hear any of them say “today’s temperature was
average.” No, it’s always either above
or below. So many people got hot under the collar (pun intended) about the
polar vortex, but it wasn't until it had gone back up to the arctic, that the
weather folks told us, its been there all along and is perfectly natural. Some
days are just “colder than blue hell” to quote a family member. It’s cold, it’s
winter, it’s January in Maine .
I’m still trying to figure out the lesson in this writing.
Maybe its life like weather is unpredictable. We can only tell what someone’s
average life is like by viewing it in hindsight, over years rather than daily
or for short periods of time. I’m also thinking that maybe this whole deal
about figuring out temperature averages is a way to attempt to foretell the
future, but there again… weather like life is unpredictable. Man spends so
much time calculating and postulating what is going to happen when truth be
told… one decision, one change of the wind can change the track of a storm (figuratively
and literally.)
I have now concluded Solomon says it much more eloquently.
Ecclesiastes 1: 17-18: “So
I worked hard to distinguish wisdom from foolishness. But now I realize that
even this was like chasing the wind. 18: For the greater my wisdom, the greater
my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.”
Ecclesiastes 12:12-13: “But
my child, be warned: There is no end of opinions ready to be expressed.
Studying them can go on forever and become very exhausting! 13 Here is my final
conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every
person.”
Take care my friends, stay warm; may you have above average
temperatures and all your storms track out to sea.
