Winter's Reminders -

Our church is very much one body but we are sharply divided into two groups: Snow lovers and Snow Dreaders.

I'm in the first group. The childhood enthusiasm I had for snow has not diminished though the reasons for my love are much deeper now than in my youth.

I'm often asked and sometimes teased about my love of the snow. While others run to the store for milk, bread and eggs and dread the thought of shoveling and clearing snow I welcome it's coming with anticipation and excitement, even as an adult. Even when I had to commute to work, 45 minutes on dry roads, I still loved snow.

The transformation of winter's beauty happened over time. As my relationship with Christ developed into a deep love snow's meaning deepened too. It's a beautiful visual analogy.

A Glimpse Of The World From God's Eye

When I look out my window to the woods I can clearly see details of trees that, just hours before, blended in with the rest of the forest. Now, each branch, its beauty, and curves, its twists and turns are highlighted by a blanket of white. I imagine this is God's view of the Earth every moment. He clearly sees each of us, our beauty, our curves, our twists and our turns. And how much more are we drenched in the white, a covering of our sin. I'm reminded of an old hymn:

Oh! Precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
~Nothing But The Blood

Driving down roads with snow-lined trees is a visual reminder of the beautiful transformation our lives take when we surrender it all to Jesus. Winter's bleak browns and grays are transformed into a bright white reflecting rays of the sun, a reminder to me that our bleak and drab lives, once marred by sin, now reflect the Son.

There's something about the stillness of fresh snow. A blanket of white tucked neatly around everything in the landscape. Again my heart reflects on the freshness of life in the arms of Christ. Winter's still and quiet days of snow-covered beauty are a sight to behold for the soul. Snow seems to slow down life, even if only for a moment. This is why I love winter.

Snow's Story

Snow tells the secrets of the night. The movements of nocturnal creatures, usually unnoticed are exposed like headlines in a newspaper, The Forest News. A quiet deer, a roaming fox, a hungry house cat. Normally undetected, their movements now very real to us in the snow. An imprint soon to fade, footprints in the snow tell a story for us to know.

I can't help but feel the gentle tug of Holy Spirit reminding me that we too are seen by the creator. When we feel like no one knows or no one cares, God is always with us.

By design, we each have likes, dislikes, and personal preferences. Yet so many I meet dread winter with its bleakness, cold, and snow. Yet it's all part of God's design and it all speaks a spiritual truth. Don't hate the snow, the cold or the season. Be thankful you live in a place to experience one of God's greatest seasons and allow it to speak to you.

The next time it snows, take a moment and drink in the beauty of this reminder of His power and presence in your life. Know that you are not alone in life. Your past has been forgiven, your sins, even those from 10 minutes ago, are forgiven when we ask.