Life’s Lessons Often Revealed in the Snow
As I gazed out of my office window earlier this week, I watched the snow fall — slowly, steadily, even serenely — adding several more inches to the nearly half-a-foot that had already accumulated.
Even though we typically don’t get a lot of snow in our area — at least not as much as, say, Syracuse, where our son and his family live — there is at least one inescapable fact about snow (or rain for that matter) — once it starts, we are powerless to stop it. All we can do is react once it has fallen. This usually involves potentially treacherous slipping, sliding, and skidding, but it can also set the stage for enjoyable activities, like skating, skiing, and sled-riding.
Indeed, snow presents a paradoxical dilemma for humankind. When it falls, it is beautiful, but after a while, as it begins to pile up, it creates problems for those who need to get from one place to another. Then, when it mixes with road salt, oil, and other
sources of grime, it leaves an unsightly black residue on our garage floor.
In that sense, snow can be a metaphor for life — pure and clean when we enter this world, but dark and dirty when we stray off course. Likewise, snow can present perplexing problems as well as joyful opportunities. Snow, like life, is what we make of it.
One notable difference between snow and life is that we usually get a warning about snow in a weather forecast, while events in life often catch us completely off guard. Nonetheless, we can be prepared for life’s storms through the wisdom of Scripture.
For example, the Gospel of John (16:33) states, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” There will be trials — we all know that — but the mere presence of Jesus in our lives gives us a sense of security in the midst of a storm.
In II Corinthians 4:8-9, we are advised to never give up, regardless of the circumstances because, “we [may be] hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” As baseball legend Yogi Berra once infamously said, “It ain’t over till it’s over,” but with Jesus it’s never over, even to the point of death, because with him and through him, we will rise again and overcome all the woes of this world.
And finally, there is this from Lamentations 3:21-24 — “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
We do, in fact, have hope from the beginning of our life to the very end when we covenant with Him. His love and grace and mercy are infinite, and His pledge to always be with us is affirmed through our rock-solid faith.
Take heart, the trials and tribulations of this life will give way to the glory and majesty of the world to come when we covenant with the Lord.
Until We Meet Again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John