Let it snow…um…you can quit now

Posted on by Gary Fultz

This week I have watched the wonder and beauty of a snow storm. I took pictures until they all looked the same. Snow looks like snow. Always wonderful, bright and dazzling, alarmingly deadly at some point. I will plow out our drive this morning for the third time.

One snowflake at a time, millions perhaps, until a bough breaks or a tree snaps. Oh the weight of carrying all those snow flakes. How can a few snowflakes be responsible for breaking a tree?

One sweet bite at a time, an ounce on the lips, a pound on the hips. What??? Mirror mirror on the wall, a look of appall.

One word at a time, nibbling at the spirit of a spouse, until something breaks inside. Oh the damage of nibbling words. How can a few words be responsible for a broken marriage?

One tiny slip at a time, a stray thought, a loose word, actions and reactions change gradually. Sin is like that. Why is my spirit heavy? The weight of life is a season I guess. I drift as the winds blow. I once was blind and now again. Some say I don’t know it. I say I’m OK.

This long winded storm alone is a book of insights and parallels to life. I was just reminded of various progressions that seem to flirt with us, dazzle the mind, fleeting beauty, weigh down, break the weak in nature and overstay it’s welcome.

Our deck Christmas trees are still standing.

I love snow. The pure white blanket is mesmerizing. A little snow is good for the soul but not for the road (like a bit of wine?). It’s fun to look out the windows from a warm house and see the beauty. The little dog Buddy thinks it’s fun to be thrown in the snow and disappear as long as he is rescued quickly (the leash helps find him).

I’ll post some of these pictures on unsplash for free down load (just look up unsplash@garyfultz) they will be larger format. I have found using the “gallery” feature in word press is friendlier to cell phones as well as computer screens. I don’t know why but when using a slide show feature, every click counts as a view in your stats which in my view tells a wrong story but that’s how it works. Click on any picture to enlarge and use the slide show buttons. The captions give context.

I decided to rescue some trees from their weight of snow, especially the ones who were bent over so far they could break. Isn’t that the Christmas story? God becoming human starting out as a baby to experience everything human except the breaking weight of sin. I can just kick a tree to relive the weight of snow (at some cost). Jesus died (really big cost) to pay for and remove our weight of sin should we accept that invitation.

I did put my hood up to kick the second tree…fast learner here.

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. … Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest Matthew 11:28 (Jesus).

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32 thoughts on “Let it snow…um…you can quit now”

  1. Beautiful winter scenes and thoughts, Gary. Thanks. Your camera work is exceptional. Is it a winter wonderland or a winter wonder? The same process works the other way. A little love here, and there, and some joy, and peace, and encouragement. These provide a strengthening of relationships. The Lord is really big on unity, on focusing on what we as Christians have in common—HIM. We cannot help but love the One, with all our hearts, who saved our lives and dedicate our otherwise meager lives to Him. And the snow covers all and makes everything look great.

    The Lord is Great. He is a Wonder.

    Merry Christmas

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    1. It was funny, until I brought him in the house. His fur collects an unbelievable amount of snow. I told my daughter I could roll him up in a snowball one direction so his head would stick out one end and tail the other….She didn’t think it was funny at all. Kind of protective I think.

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  4. I don’t like snow Gary. It often causes absolute chaos in the UK because we are just not used to it these days. But snow arrived last Sunday – about an inch, yet a couple of miles away there was none! We have had some stunningly beautiful days with clear blue skies since we had the snow.

    You would think it was warm here but it has struggled to get above freezing this week. Atlantic weather due to arrive on Sunday.

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      1. We had no snow last year Gary so it was a bit of a surprise to wake to a white world last Sunday. After a really mild November the December temperatures to date have been challenging, particularly as energy prices have gone through the roof. Because of inflation a lot of people are struggling to cover the costs of feeding their families let alone heating their homes.

        The dog seems to enjoy the snow when it is fresh. He’s not so keen now it is a bit icy and crunchy underfoot! Rain forecast for this Sunday with temperatures in the 50s. I don’t envy you with a 50 degrees colder forecast.

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  5. Your photographs of the snow are beautiful! We might get some here in Virginia for Christmas. Jesus has lifted the weight of sin for us; we are brand-new, like the fresh-fallen snow. Thank you for sharing all of this beauty with us and for sharing the message of Christmas!

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    1. So true Linda. The weight part really hit me as I was taking pictures of trees, some had tops almost to the ground. When I would rustle them or give the base of the tree a kick, most of the snow would fall off in an instant and they would spring back up. A fun picture of forgiveness. It’s a good thing God’s forgiveness is light as well as whiter than snow.

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  6. We are so blessed! God is good. He is always good. Our pine trees almost lay upon the ground in a heavy snow. It is always amazing to see them ‘bounce back’. It is really something when a whole row of them are suddenly flat upon the earth. Then, as the sun warms our winter world, and the snow drops from the branches, the trees spring up again. There is a lesson there for us to be sure!!!

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    1. Most of our pine will survive as well. One broke off this morning, a small 12″ thick pine. The wind has come up and is helping get snow off so lots of trees springing up…yes, so fun to see.

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  7. Beautiful, Gary. The Lords winter blanket over the shrubs and the grasses. Great thing you were there to save some trees!
    Great thing we have Jesus to save us from the weight of our sin!

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    1. Just a reminder that nature is far from perfect GW, yet has perfect examples of many truths about God and how he works in and around us should we care to notice.
      The snow falling on me may have looked fun. It was like losing a snowball fight.

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  9. Gorgeous photos, Gary! They remind me of when I lived in the Scottish Highlands (I live in the north-east of England now).
    I’d like to make a request – a photo of Buddy please? 🙂

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    1. Thank You Lesley. I remember flying over the Scottish Highlands in February one year. I was wowed by the beauty even from the air. I’ll try to include a Buddy Photo on a future post. I think on a couple past posts he made the cut and people seem to like Buddy.

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  10. It’s the little things or moments that add up. The little can seem so insignificant and yet over time become immense.

    Beautiful pictures Gary! A true winter wonderland.

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    1. Thanks Stephanie. It is a winter wonderland and will probably be for quite some time. we get enough flakes coming down almost every day to replenish any snow that falls off. I’m now scraping a couple feet of heavy snow off the roof. Those little things sure do add up. I probably have over 2 ton (literally) of flakes on my roof. And we have a God who knows every snow flake? More than boggles my mind.

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  11. Gary, it’s hilarious that Buddy likes to be thrown in the snow. I have two small dogs and I guess they’re spoiled because they won’t go do their business until I shovel a long path to a cleared area in the yard when the snow is belly deep on them.

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    1. It is fun to watch. Little Buddy wants to jump off the road into the snow bank. He tries to run under the snow and at least get his head under. So far he has not touched his wet nose to metal when it’s really cold.

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      1. “So far he has not touched his wet nose to metal,” indicates he’s a bit brighter than many humans who cannot resist, despite being warned of the consequences, sticking their moist tongue to some frosty metallic surface. (I tried in first grade.)

        Your description gave me another laugh imagining him running under the snow. Sounds like Buddy knows how to playfully enjoy the gift of snow God gave rather than resent it. I admit I need to take some lessons from Buddy. 😂

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  12. He does seem to enjoy a lot of his life judging by his antics. He is not used to cold yet. It was -14 degrees this morning and wanted to be carried about half way through the walk (after piling into the snow) as he just sat down and lifted 3 paws at a time in the air.

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  13. Insightful lessons and beautiful photos from the blizzard, Gary. (Except for the one of you getting doused under the tree. I feel your pain!) I wonder if God sees such beauty when we are washed whiter than snow from our sins (Psalm 51:&)?

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    1. I’m quite sure God see’s beauty when we are washed that white. The snow hurts my eyes when the sun comes out. When it’s cloudy the snow can look gray. I think it reflects whatever is around it but loves to reflect white light. Sometimes I over draw the insight beyond what I should I think.

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