Blog Header - January 28, 2008

Yesterday I traveled into Washington, DC, for a meeting. In order to make it into the city by opening of business, I have to leave our house at 3:00 am. So I left the house long before the winter storm hit the DC metro area.

But by the time I had arrived at the outskirts of the DC suburbs, the snow was coming hard and heavy. The roads quickly became covered and in typical Washington, DC, fashion, the drivers all began driving like morons. I've gotten used to DC driving, but familiarity doesn't make it any more pleasant.

Psalm 147:16-17

He gives snow like wool;
   he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
   who can stand before his cold?

Mary and I recently discussed the enjoyment we can derive from noticing the contrasts in the world. The terrible drivers in DC provide me a wonderful contrast to help me appreciate the better behaved drivers in Lynchburg. But I digress.

The contrasts we were talking about were related to weather and how different times of day, different seasons, and different weather provides us with endless variety—each with a unique beauty, if we only open our eyes and appreciate it. And the pleasure we derive is fulfilled when we praise God for the beauty he has blessed us with.

So I paid attention to the change in the weather as I left the DC area and headed back to Lynchburg yesterday. The snow was still falling and accumulating rapidly on the ground as I headed out of the city. As the temperature raised the flakes became large soft feathery flakes, and as the temperature lowered the flakes became tiny and fell a bit more swiftly.

The pattern of the snow blowing past the car had a unique beauty all its own as well. I've always loved the way snow looks through the windows of a moving automobile. It almost looks like one of the effects they use in movies to indicate a time warp or a worm hole in space.

But as I got closer to home, the snow gave way to freezing rain. I have always hated driving in freezing rain because it is very dangerous. And yesterday I was driving through the mountains, which have a much higher potential of danger in such conditions.

But God is sovereign and I was driving carefully, so I decided to just notice how beautiful everything becomes when a layer of ice covers everything. The grass began to glitter. The sky took on a gray hue that caused the ice-covered tree limbs to stand out in vivid relief. Even the mechanical portion of the windshield wipers became quite beautiful in it's icy covering.

So as soon as I got home I grabbed my camera a took a few pictures of the tree limbs in our front yard.

Thank you, god, for such a beautiful home you've given us.