The snow had begun falling at the end of page 40 and the forecast was calling for significant accumulation so I planned on an early start to page 41 in order to get the inside and outside work done before the start of school.  I was up a little after five and sure enough there was snow on the ground and it continued to fall.  As I got ready for the day I kept an eye on the local news listing for a possible delay or closing.  Finally it came — two hour delay, so back to bed for an extra hour of rest before needing to go in to work.  I arrived at work to a fresh canvas of white snow covering everything.  The snow was deep enough that it was time to break out the snowblower for some serious walk clearing.  There is something strangely peaceful about hearing the sound of the snowblower and watching the arc of snow that showers from the chute to the ground leaving behind a snow-free sidewalk.  After making my way completely around the building to clear all the walks and entryways, I find out the two hour delay had been changed to being closed for the day.  Oh well, I guess the snow needed moved sometime and sleep can be overrated.  🙂

Throughout the morning the lake-effect snow squalls would come and go so I tried to keep up with them to keep the snow from accumulating back on the cleared walks.  In between trips outside, I worked on some writing and research as well as cleaning the building so it is already done to save me some time tomorrow.  The view from my office was beautiful throughout the day as the snow fell and hung in the trees.  It made me think of the beauty we gain when God clothes us in Christ.  We have an inherent beauty about us because we have been created by the Almighty in His image.  However, the sin that we allow to take up residence in our life begins to tarnish that beauty the moment we begin to entertain sinful thoughts.  The longer we linger in those thoughts, the more likely it is that we give in to the thing that tempts us.   Before long, the bright glistening creation we were made to be has become dull and gray — stained by the pollution of sin.  It is when we confess our sins to God in repentance that He not only forgives our sin but cleanses us from all of the unrighteousness that has stained us.  We are restored in His sight to the beauty that He created us to have.

I pray that you and I live with the beauty God has created us to have.  I pray that we seek, and allow, Him to wash us whiter than snow from all of our transgressions.

As I considered the beauty of the snow, I was reminded of a 2008 conference where I first began to use a camera to capture images of the beauty of God’s creation as a part of my personal worship of God.  This photo of a columbine blossom is from that first “unstructured worship” assignment which opened my mind further to the incredible nature of God through His creativity.