Drifting Grace

I was at the edge of the patio with a bucket of bird seed in my hand and I looked across the backyard, knowing that I had to cross the 2 to 3 foot drifts in order to fill the feeder that day. The wind was still blowing and it was pretty cold, but I knew that the birds at the edge of the woods would be looking forward to the food I held tightly in my gloved hand. As I set out to do my kind deed, providing a little food for hungry birds on a cold and blustery day, I paused before stepping into the drift and enjoyed God’s creative handiwork.  The snow continued to drift.  It was still cold and windy outside and I knew that once I stepped into the drift, snow would fill my socks and boots. In addition, I also knew that my footsteps would disrupt the snow sculpture that God so carefully planned for me to enjoy that day. I stood at the edge of the patio because I wanted to enjoy the beauty for the moment, and so I embraced the wind and the cold as God’s creation blew to completion.  

These are sacred moments that only the spirit within us can know and appreciate.At this time of year, we are tired of winter, the snow, the blowing wind, and the short nights, but sometimes we just need to let go and let God be God, finding beauty and joy even in the bleak mid-winter. One day the sun will shine and the temperatures will be warm enough to turn our snow paintings into water and each droplet will find its way into the earth and nourish the creation that God so carefully designed for us to enjoy.  So, at the edge of patio with a bucket of birdseed in my hand, I paused to worship the beauty of God’s earth and for a moment and I was at one with God’s creation. In a moment the designs in the drifting snow would change, never to be seen again. It was if God was creating that moment just for me. O Lord, my Lord, how majestic is your name in all the world. 

I soon stepped into the drifting snow, but not before taking a couple of photographs. My footprints to the bird feeder can still be seen, but God continues to create something new for me to enjoy. As I stepped through the drifting snow, I got to thinking about the ridges that added texture and design to the drifting snow.  The ridges that gave uniqueness to the drifts were created by millions, perhaps tens of millions of tiny snowflakes blowing in the wind. One small, miniscule droplet of frozen water, piling one upon the other, creating beautiful drifts that would take a bulldozer to move. As I thought some more about the tiny, frozen droplets of water, I thought about how the Church of Jesus Christ is like the three foot drifts around my house. 

  

It is the Apostle Paul who writes, “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” Romans 12:4-5. At this time of year, it may be appropriate to see ourselves as one small, droplet of frozen water that build up the snow-drifts that surround our homes. Each one of us may see ourselves as tiny and insignificant, but in the greater scope of life, we are each important and each are needed to do great and beautiful things for God.  A snow-drift only grows when hundreds of millions of tiny droplets come together to be a snow-drift. A snow-drift is only beautiful because each unique droplet of frozen water uses its shape and its gifts to add beauty, texture, and character to the drifting snow. And so it is with us. Let us in this time, not see ourselves as a meaningless snow-flake blowing, haplessly in the wind. Instead, let us see what we can offer to our church that can add beauty, texture, and the uniqueness to our faith family. This is the gift that God gives us today.