In the Bleak Mid-winter

A full day, Father, though not as full as in years past. I pray that our humble offerings of service would have the impact that You desire. Amen.

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This past week something occurred that was a bit out of the ordinary. It is not unusual for it to snow this time of year, but it is a bit unusual for it to linger for very long. We had about four inches earlier in the week and then there was more a day or so later.

Snow is one of those things that people either despise or love. Normally there is not much middle ground. I, for one, love snow…even though it can be a great challenge to drive in – especially a school bus! But honestly, that is another one of the perks of driving a school bus, especially when you drive for a rural school district.

At this point in the year, it is still pretty dark on my early route, but the sun is up for my elementary route and my views are often spectacular – sunrises, wildlife, to name just a couple – but there is something beautifully serene about snow.

Scenes of nature this time of year, and for the next few months, are pretty drab. The only green you will see are evergreens and the occasional field of winter wheat. Everything else consists of a wide variety of browns and greys – somber to say the least. But when the snow comes, everything is under a beautifully brilliant layer of white! It shines…it shimmers. The drab is gone and if you know how to look, sights that are breathtaking to the eyes abound! Come around a bend or pop over a rise and glory is all around.

A few years back a Christian artist by the name of Twila Paris released her version of the Christmas hymn, In the Bleak Mid-winter. (And as if God is affirming my writing, what should come to my ears but the song itself as I write!) I may have heard it before, but it has stuck in my head since then. It was written originally as a poem by a young lady by the name of Christina Rossetti in January 1872. Here are three of its stanzas,

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty —
Jesus Christ.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am? —
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, —
Yet what I can I give Him, —
Give my heart.

(Read the entire poem on Wikipedia by click here.)

One of our struggles is that far too often we feel that our lives are filled with way too many browns and greys…especially before we come to a relationship with Christ. Life is drab but he covers our lives with Himself, much like snow covers a bleak mid-winter world and lives that were once dull and dreary come alive under His guiding hand. What once had the look of barely being alive now becomes vibrant and glory is all around! What a wonderful gift He gives us!

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7 _NLT

Dec 20^th, 2020, Sun, 8:23 pm