November 14, 2018 “Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.” – Romans 1:20 It would be an understatement to say I thoroughly dislike cold weather. If the topic comes up in conversation, I am almost certain to spout a litany of complaints: “Heating a house is expensive. Shoveling is torture; people die doing it. Driving on icy roads is stressful. I get cold easily. Snow is a four-letter word that starts with ‘S’ and ends with ‘NOOOOOOO!’” In fact, I can think of only two endearing things about winter: Christmas and sledding with my family, and I only do the latter if the temperature is above 20. With that in mind, I was more than a little unhappy to find a thick layer of frost when I opened my front door one day last week. My snow brush/scraper still in storage (that has since been corrected), I sat in my vehicle, waiting for the defrost function to work its magic and grumbling about the cold. My windshield clear, I got on the road for my commute to work. With the sun just beginning to make its appearance over the trees devoid of leaves, the rural roads seemed very gray and lifeless. Just a few miles into my commute, as I awaited an opportunity to safely pass an Amish buggy, I noticed a horse eating in the field adjacent to the road. When the horse lifted its head from the pile of feed, its breath was visible. The cold that made the world look lifeless allowed me to see life being sustained. Another eight to 10 miles down the road, I noticed the sun reflecting off the frost, creating a sparkling, glittery effect. The cold that made the world look gray enabled me to see enchanting beauty. It was a good reminder that God, His goodness and beauty can be found everywhere, even in situations that are unpleasant or downright miserable, if I’m willing to look for Him. He’s found in the people who help when times are tough. He’s found in the moments of calm in times of chaos. He can be found even in the cold. I very briefly considered that maybe God was trying to teach me to love the cold, but I’m pretty sure He knows that would take a miracle. |
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