This morning at 6 AM, the world’s greatest canine and I went for a walk. She, for reasons rather personal in nature, and me to make sure she came home as well as to carry the bag.
We discovered that not only had it snowed last night, but that it was still snowing.
The ground was covered by 2” of snow and the new falling snow was descending – not the big , puffy “angel” snow, but not the hard driving kind either
Tiny, intricate geometric shapes swirling and twirling; cascading down from the sky.
A few years ago I ran across this
book called “The Snowflake” by Ken Libbrecht. He has since released a few others in the series.
There are photo galleries
here. You should peruse them a bit before continuing to read this entry.
I was struck with the engineering that went behind these amazing creations. Some will attribute this to random chance and the “nature” of crystal formation. Bah! Humbug!
Who taught the crystals to do that? I don’t believe time + randomness can create beauty. Trust me, I’ve tried my hand at artistic painting and random does not equal breathtaking.
It is said by those who study snowflakes that no two are identical
As I was reflecting on these trillion masterpieces drifting on the wings of winter two things occurred to me:
1.) God has not been silent about masterpieces. For as awe-inspiring and breathtaking as snowflakes and sunsets and mountains and majestic redwoods and lynxes and exotic fish are, God says He has created a masterpiece. See, you and I, we human beings, we are created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)
Sometimes our English translations muff it up a bit, but Romans 2:9-10 tells us that "Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
(Eph. 2:9-10 NLT
Creation with its heart-stirring, breath stealing beauty, intricacy and majesty are meant to point to the fact that God is there.
You and I are designed to reflect His image. Imago Dei. You are a masterpiece. No matter what you think when you look in the mirror or the magazine. You are a masterpiece dearly loved by an awesome Creator who loves you more than ten zillion snowflakes, or ten million trees.
2.) Think about how Christ came. Philippians 2 tells us that He “made himself nothing”. The passage is talking primarily about Christ’s humility, but also mentions that He was made into human likeness. Or as John states it “The Word became flesh.”
Think about the inner workings of the human reproductive process. How small does a human start? Smaller than most snowflakes.
Here's a baby at 8 weeks of gestation:
roughly the size of a blackberry - smaller than some snowflakes I've seen in northern Wisconsin.
Again, Phil 2 , I love the Amplified Bible. Speaking of Christ, Paul says, “6Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [ possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,
7But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
8And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!
9Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,
10That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11And every tongue [ frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
So, even though I will shovel a billion masterpieces off my driveway in a few hours time, when I see these masterworks of snowflakes, it causes me to be greatly humbled, knowing the immense love of the Father God crafting me in His image, calling me a masterpiece and remembering the great humility of my Savior. The God who made himself smaller than a snowflake for a time, grew inside a virgin’s womb, lived a life of joy and honor and love and integrity; a life that made the destitute and disenfranchised feel accepted and the sin-stained know hope. The only One who has ever lived a life without sin. Who was betrayed, mocked, beaten to a bloody pulp, crucified for my sin and has risen again.
And I am moved to my knees in gratitude ….
