Monday, January 15, 2007

Snowflakes

We've had some crazy weather here in Seattle lately. It's been like "real" winter! Normally, everything is very temperate here- but not lately! It's a little nutty. But I like it.

The other night, I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake Marty so I grabbed my favorite blanket and curled up on a chair in the living room by the window to watch it snow. It was about 1am- nice and quiet except for the occasional car sliding through the intersection. I just don't understand why people think if they drive an SUV they can drive like they normally do in winter weather. These nincompoops make the roads so dangerous as they slipslide about. But, I digress.

So, the snow was coming down in big fluffy flakes. Softly falling. It was soooooo pretty. And as I sat watching thousands of snowflakes falling, I got to thinking about how no two snowflakes are alike. It blew my mind. Each one of those thousands of snowflakes I watched during that half hour or so was COMPLETELY UNIQUE. Wow. SNOWFLAKES!!!!! Little bits of frozen precipitation that have very small lifespans and yet are completely, uniquely, beautifully designed! Little bits of precipitations that individually don't make a dent in the grand scheme of eternity! But they are each a masterpiece! And people don't think God exists!

Then I got to thinking how unique people are and how BIG God must be to have designed all of us (and STILL has time to design a kabillion unique bits of frilly, lacey, frozen precipitation) How can people think we crawled out of the muck? One of my favorite things my old pastor used to say was if you put a bunch of watch bits in a bag and shook it for a thousand years- it wouldn't be a watch. It would still be bits. We need the Creator.

Look at all the beautiful people in the world. All different shapes and sizes and colors. All of us with different personalities, giftings, interests and DNA. No two are exactly alike- and we're all so terribly complex. For instance, I can't do algebra or speak french- but I can tell what size someone wears pretty much by just looking at them. (Pretty handy in my line of work) And we all speak different languages- as if the same "UGG" could become latin, french, spanish, aramaic, navajo... I mean, COME ON! AND to boggle the mind even further, God not only created everyone- but He knows the number of hairs on our HEADS. Granted, that's more to remember for some than others. : ) But still, we have a God who cares enough to create masterpieces of tiny precipitation. He loves beauty. And yet, we live in a society where we don't value the creation of life, of each other, of every human being- all who have value and are completely unique. We are not in awe of the Creator capable of creating the magnificent diversity of everything and everyone. What is wrong with us? Are we so self-centered we cannot look around with the wonder of children? I don't know many people who don't enjoy watching a quiet and beautiful snowfall. But I know many people who cannot find the same joy in watching each person, who is more unique, beautiful, precious and valuable than a snowflake. I find it all quite amazing.