Few years ago, as a family we travelled about 2500 kms by train and bus from home on a holiday to see and experience snow at Manali, a hill station in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Mind you, that was during Indian summer, there were some patches of snow, but not really fresh snow. These days, here in the UK, particularly during this national lockdown, we are thrilled and elated to wake up in the mornings to see snow from our windows, for it brings cheer and happiness to soul. I know there are some who loathe snow for it adds stress to clear it from their driveways and have to drive on ungritted roads. As I reflect on snow, I am reminded that it is in God, our creator all seasons and times finds their home, for God is the God of rain, snow, sun, light, moon, day and night. I am called to rejoice and be thankful to God for the change of seasons, committing to care for the creation. Secondly, I am reminded of a verse from Isaiah 55:10, where the prophet speaks about the purpose of the Word of God and compares it with rain and snow, “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater.” The purpose of snow is to water the earth, helping the earth to be a place where seeds are grown and food is produced. Time and again poets of old and new have compared snow with purity, softness, whiteness. Snow for me is not about ‘whiteness,’ but reminds me that snow symbolises a purpose for the earth. Likewise, we as human beings are born into this world with a purpose, and so offering and contributing our lives for the purpose we are born for is the ultimate goal of any life. As followers of Christ, the purpose of life is to share love and be channels of life like Christ. Mark Twain once said, “there are two important days in our lives, one is the day we are born, and the other is the day we know why we are born?” Let the snow therefore remind each of us to discover the purpose of our life given to us by our creator God and strive towards fulfilling that purpose with God’s grace and to the best of our abilities.
God of snow, we praise you for in your time the seasons find their home,
As we see, shovel and experience snow, help us to realise the purpose of our lives,
And help us to live out our lives in love, sharing, giving and receiving love,
So that this our world becomes a transformative place of love and life for all. Amen.
Raj Patta,
25th January 2021
No comments:
Post a Comment