On my side of the mountain in Montana, we have grown accustomed to at least one spring snowstorm. About the time we are teased into thinking spring is just around the corner, we receive the biggest snowfall of the year. That very thing happened this week. On the weekend the temperatures were in the 6o’s tempting us to thoughts of cleaning the garage or planting something. Then it happened. On Tuesday morning we awakened to snow on the ground, and it snowed all day—hard, steadily, and unrelentingly. Twenty inches later, we wondered why we even considered that spring was on the way.
I love snow. At least, I love snow falling. I love the hush that settles over the earth when snow is falling. I love the sense of peace that snowfall brings—the ceasing from activity and the “permission” that comes to stay inside and rest. I love how snow covers the browns and grays with a blanket of white. There are no variables with snow. Snow is not off-white; it is not eggshell; it is not cream. Snow is white. It falls in stark contrast to the muted tones of the earth.
Like the browns and grays of the landscape before the snowfall, there seem to be so many brown and gray areas of life any more. So many uncertainties, so many indefinites.
Then there are the brown and gray areas of my heart—the areas that aren’t really black, but not really white either. Like the habit of making myself appear better than I really am, the desire to be preferred, or the need to be approved.
In a few weeks we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. The landscape will take on another hue as the results of today’s snowfall turn the grays and browns to green. There will be an emphasis on hope and new life.
The time between now and Easter is a wonderful opportunity to identify the browns and grays of our life—the sins that are not perhaps blatant or obvious, but put Christ on the cross, nevertheless. It is a time of self examination and repentance, a time of surrendering completely to the Lordship of Christ, not holding anything back. It is a time to pray, “Lord, show me sin that I am not even aware of that separates me from You. And use the snowfalls between now and then to remind me that only the absolute “whiteness of your rightness” can make me whiter than snow.” Isaiah 1:18
RomaLee
Same situation here in Virginia! The snow and winter weather would not be so bad if we didn't get those teaser days!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the nice analogy and reminder to keep surrendering all those little things to Christ.
Love this, Roma Lee! Thanks for a new perspective!
ReplyDeleteKim
Enjoy your tranquility and your moment to allow yourself permission to look at your world from your window. The photo by the water is absolutely breathtaking. All too soon we will all be called outside to prune and trim and mow and plant and paint and repair. Let's allow ourself these last few weeks of curling up with a blanket and a cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteBTW: Loves the photo of the bike ride in the snow. You Montana women rock!!