Monday: I woke up this morning, took a shower, and started to make my way to the kitchen in search of coffee. I had quite a to do list for the day, and was eager to get started on it. As I passed by a window, my footsteps were arrested by a most magical (at least to this southern girl’s experiences) sight: Snow. There wasn’t a lot of it, but it was quickly and aimlessly making its way downwards in little flakes.
After waking up the other southern girls staying with me that night, I finally found my way to the kitchen and poured myself a cup of coffee. With my Bible, devotional, and computer in hand I made my way to the living room, but not without pausing for several minutes before a window overlooking an open field that was entertaining many millions of snowflakes.
As I pondered the snowflakes lazily making their way to the ground, I thought about my own life. Some of the flakes seemed to be bigger and quickly darted to the ground. Others were lighter and were carried off by the wind to another portion of the field. Still others seemed to have no weight at all and on a whim darted this direction and then that.
Watching the snow made me think of my own life, and if you’ll allow me the pleasure of “waxing philosophical” for just a moment, I’ll briefly share my thoughts. In a world full of twirling ideas and philosophies and belief systems, I want my life to follow a set of principles that are steady and true. I often think about the future and where I’m going in life, but of greater importance to me is to what and where I am anchored. I want my life to mirror the snowflakes that with no regard to where the other snowflakes are going make their way to their final destination. For some, it’s a tree where they burry themselves among other snowflakes and create a picturesque winter image. For others, they merely go down and contribute to the wintery blanket that covers the ground.
Thursday: Regardless of where I’m going (because I don’t really know yet), I want to go with purpose and the assurance that I’m moving forward intentionally. Every life, like every snowflake, is different and because of its uniqueness contributes to something beautiful in the end. I want my life to be something that contributes to beauty around me. I don’t think I can do this without intentionally thinking about it – without being aware of the potential to contribute to beauty.
Where are you going? Are you moving with intention?
I find it comforting to know that snowflakes are actually being controlled by even greater “powers” (if you will). The wind moves the snowflake so the snowflake doesn’t really get much say in where it ends up even as it knows that its final destination lies somewhere below. We’re like that to God… we know where our final destination is and as long as we keep that in our view He’ll send us in the right direction.
P.S. I talked about this blog on Sunday when I did a devotional at church.
Snowflakes don’t get much say as to where they will end up, certainly. However, the more I learn about and experience life and God, the more I am baffled by His tendency to tell me, in moments of seeking His will, ‘Just make a decision!’ This is not to say that God is distant when it comes to our lives or our direction. In fact, I would adamantly argue the contrary any day. However, I’m beginning to be convinced that our choices make a difference. To say that I, as the snowflake, have little choice as to where I end up is even dangerous, in my opinion. It just may encourage a little too much apathy on my part. Yes, God has a purpose and a plan for our lives. Somehow, though, our decisions play a part in this purpose and plan. Yes, like snowflakes we are swayed by forces that are beyond our control. However, I believe more strongly every day that our ability to make even life-altering decisions is a part of this plan.
in-ten-tion [in-ten-shuhn]
–noun
1. an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.
2. the end or object intended; purpose.
“Therefore…let us run with endurance the race that is before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” – Heb. 12:1-2 Let us run THIS RACE –let the snowflakes fall— fixing our eye on Jesus— “as they make their way to their final destination, whether tree or ground— confident … bold and with purpose.
Hey Lauren,
I don’t think we give up a right to choice – I think the biggest decision is that we’re going to follow God and submit to His will for us. From then on we continuously make decisions to continue to submit to that will or deviate from it.
And this is the biggest difference between us and the snowflakes: we get a choice and they don’t.
Nonetheless, if we make the choice to submit to God’s plan then He will move us just as easily as He moves the snowflakes. In contrast, there are even times when God will not allow us to go in another direction: Moses did not want to talk to the king of Egypt and tried to tell God new ideas, excuses and so forth, yet God had a plan and would not sway on what that was. Many prophets also fought against their calling and found themselves having to submit later when they submitted to the fact God is relentless.
Anyway… this conversation never seems to end, but I wanted to clarify that our choices are also valid, but perhaps it would be an interesting goal to be so compliant to the will of God that we are more like snowflakes and move just as easily with His plan.