God's Wonder Right Under My Foot & Nose

If my guesstimate is correct I have been shoveling snow now for about 54 years. That is taking off 5 years of my life while I lived in South East Asia… and the fact that I was about 3 when I had the first photo taken of me holding a small shovel.

With some rough calculations that is possible that I have shoveled off and on over a period of five months each winter – 270 months total. That is a lot of shovels full of snow. What a great work out!

The unique thing about working with the snow – it’s all different. We all have heard the quote that no two snow flakes are the same. Add to that there are entirely different kinds of snow flake groups at different temperatures. I found a delightful Site on the Web that has photos that are stunning. The work of this man is amazing. The URL address is listed at the end of this Blog posting. What a great site to stir kids and adult imaginations.

The last few days as more snow has been falling in our area of Canada I have been happy to shovel the millions of flakes off twice a day. There right under my nose is the beautiful creation that God has surrounded me with. Each flake is hand crafted by God. Each small spike and delicate stems carefully formed – lasting for moments before it is covered with other and newer flakes – sculpting the piles and drifts of a “Made in Canada” winter.

Just looking closely at the flakes yesterday was a joy. As we walked through it the sound of squeaking snow happened again. As it blew off the roof nearby me it lay gently on my eyelids then my lip – I could taste it. What a delight to have snow.

The best for “cold” south-east Asia can do is rain drops and air-conditioned buildings.

This morning as I push more snow off the drive way I am filled with more wonder at what God has done around me. I am amazed at his creation.

Then the slow and penetrating thought came again yesterday. How do I fit in all of this – (past the idea that I need the exercise shoveling)?

My life is like a snow flake. Delicately crafted and cared for my God. To say the least, I am frail. Here for a short period of time. The beauty is something that he only sees. My reason for being there is to delight and bless those that witness what I am. At times I am a problem for some but I can be shoveled out of the way. There are so many comparisons that make sense today.

This reflection is a good one as I don the warm clothes to go do my Canadian winter thing – shoveling.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

View Ken Libbrecht’s work in photographing snow flakes at
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/