Quick Thought: Snow

(after being pounded by a huge snowstorm, the mid-west is buried. The news is full of tragedy, shoveling tips, and plenty of empathy for those who are snowed in)

When I suited up this morning, donned my snowsuit, gloves, beanie, and boots I joyfully trudged out the door and off the porch. In the past my reaction was always, "MAN SNOW! RATS!" Now as I stood knee deep in wet, white, snow drifts, I was able to crack a huge smile and rejoice in knowing the Lord is sovereign. Even amidst the dangerous inconveniences and mayhem that snow brings, I can't help but observe that the reason our reaction and ability to adapt to so much snow falling and creating catastrophe is always with much reluctance because we have created so many things to suit ourselves in the environment instead suiting ourselves to the environment. We've created a society based on industrialization, mass production, and abuse of the natural environment that occurs around us. This society in turn requires an abnormal amount of change to occur in the areas we settle in that when the snow does fall, it's a major disaster because it does what? It impedes our comings and goings. The pace of our lifestyles are all but halted, panic sets in, and sometimes, the power goes out. Then what? Rely on what? Watch what TV? Surf what internet? Now something that is ever so natural, part of the earth and it's age old cycle of weather, and an occurrence we can do absolutely nothing about becomes chaos. The finger is pointed at global warming, or the effect humans have on the ecosystem and their "carbon footprints" or whatever they are called.

Maybe, just maybe, we can stop and think that the reason disasters are so disastrous is because they inconvenience us and slow us down. The big picture is the halting of human progress and his ever obvious desire for conquest and power. Either way, I look at the snow, and I see His Glory manifest in the earth. In joy, sorrow, strife, pain, happiness, or misery His Glory. It is all His, and the earth is filled with it.

Amen.

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
(Luk 21:32-35)(ESV)

P.s. Michigan is the Winter Wonderland right?

(photo is credit of: Dan Lassiter, AP/The Janesville Gazette)