Snow day

Snow has settled in our little urban wonderland today, 5-7 inches overall. I always forget how bright the world is when the sun is shining on newly fallen snow. It's beautifully iridescent and blinding in the best possible way.

Last night, as I was walking home from my parking space, the snow had already accumulated 3 inches. I was walking alone on the sidewalk, and I was struck by the beauty of the moment. In the summertime, when I think of winter, all I can think of is the bitter cold and having to shovel my car out of a parking space. I forget about the perfect moments that God gives to us only through winter. I was walking on my street filled with beautiful Victorian houses, and on each fence post and each gable, there was undisturbed snow, perching peacefully and settling in for the night. The noise from the traffic was muted, and I couldn't hear anything except the snow falling and my footsteps crunching on the snow underneath my feet. The darkness of night was brightened by the sheer brilliance of the snow, and everything sparkled. The city was covered with a luminous layer of snow, hiding its urban dirt and hibernating vegetation, and it was like Cinderella at the ball--so beautiful I couldn't stop looking at it. These are the moments that we live for. Moments where you hum a Christmas carol because only a Christmas carol will work. God is a fabulous designer of all things natural, and He gives us, His children, the best gifts when we least expect them.

The snow will become gray and dirty soon, our world can't help but pollute that which God has given. But in the meantime, grace has found us in the sparkling joy of the first snowfall. Happy snow day!