As a long-time Connecticut resident in the New England region of
the USA, I have a definite ‘love-hate’ relationship with winter weather.
I am particularly averse to those biting blasts of chilly Arctic air that
frequently invade our borders from December through February, and beyond.
However, I do love to lounge in front of a cozy fireplace, totally mesmerized
by its warmth, its glow, and the crackling of burning embers.
Let me be perfectly clear. I am no fan of shoveling
mountains of snow, especially in the volume and frequency of some of our recent
winters. Admittedly, so far we are
getting a much-needed break this winter. Whenever we get our ‘fair
share,’ the snow blower ably assists my efforts, but never increases my
likability for wintry storms. Nevertheless, I love to stand at the window
and gaze at the absolute beauty and awesome tranquility of newly fallen snow.
Bottom-line: I am emotionally ambivalent about those frequent
downpours of winter snow, but I have a deep-seated and abiding admiration for
their basic building-blocks, a.k.a. THE SNOWFLAKES…because SNOWFLAKES ARE SURVIVORS.
Their birthplace is high in the stratosphere, where they form
amid violent blasts of frosty wind, conditions totally unimaginable and unendurable
for us. Along their gravity-driven journey, they collide forcefully with
one another. And they are continually shaped (and reshaped) by
treacherous winds, changing temperatures and violent collisions with fellow
flakes.
In fact, before reaching the ground, their transitions and
transformations are far too numerous to count.
However, the difficulty of their journey produces some miraculous
results. Every snowflake achieves the rare beauty of individuality and
uniqueness. No two are alike. This is amazing, even astounding, in
light of the multiplied millions of flakes that comprise any-and-every
beautiful blanket of fallen snow.
I have a deep-seated and abiding admiration for these wintry
friends…because WE, TOO, ARE SNOWFLAKES.
The circumstantial winds of life constantly shape us; the
powerful gravity of life continually transports us. We moved…changed…developed…and
formed in the Christ. Yet, along life’s
journey, we rise; we fall; we rise again. (Proverbs 24:16) Indeed, we are becoming
freer and fearless, despite collisions, conflict, pressure, or pain. Because
the All-Wise GOD transforms our diverse situations into divine appointments
that develop distinctiveness and destiny.
As we allow OUR
CREATOR to define and refine our journey (and ourselves), we become
those beautifully crafted, absolutely awesome, BEINGS-OF-PURPOSE who were conceived in the divine MIND long before the
foundation of the world.
It is HIS PLAN. It is OUR PROCESS.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who
love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
GLIDE FEARLESSLY, SNOWFLAKE, for divine
meaning and mission reside within all your wintry storms.
Sisters and
brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE
READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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