either my friend, the Snow Captain, is way more powerful than I ever thought she was (or maybe she’s just getting better at her new job as snow captain) or the Captain of all the snow captains read my recent blog post, “my friend – the Snow Captain”.

But something is definitely up because it snowed today.  It snowed a most unusual snow.  It snowed and changed the world around me, momentarily anyway.  It snowed and it was the perfect snow scenario.  (didn’t know there was such a thing, did you?)

I had no idea just how perfect until I drove to a late afternoon meeting, which gave me the opportunity to witness first hand the magic of the miracle that had just taken place and was continuing to take place right before my eyes.

So let me say up front,  nice job!  well done!  bravo!  Keep up the good work!

that’s what I was thinking as I drove down a once familiar street now unrecognizable, totally transformed before my eyes by the snow that now snowcased all of God’s creation – outlining everything in soft white.

Driving down this tree lined street I knew so well, I felt I had entered into an enchanted forest or perhaps a fairyland.  There was a calm, a quiet in the air – a muffled majesty met my eyes everywhere I looked.  Light snow was still falling silently from a sky full of gray clouds, illuminated only by the snow they had so recently deposited, the snow that now lay protectively, even decoratively over everything in sight on the ground.

Well, over almost everything.  What had no snow on them were the roads, the driveways and the sidewalks.  It looked as though walks and driveways had already been shoveled, as though roads had already been cleared – except there were no piles of extra snow anywhere  – because these surfaces had never had snow on them to begin with.

Unbelievable – all the wild, wonderful beauty snow brings with her when she comes, was mine to behold and enjoy – without any of the backbreaking work of shoveling snow off my driveway – without any of the worry of having to drive on dangerous, snow covered roads – without these things that usually accompany snow’s arrival, greatly diminishing my enjoyment of her presence.

What a gift this snowfall gave us all!  She bestowed her beauty on our barren, winter landscape – clothing trees left naked by the exodus of autumn’s leaves – covering rough, exposed edges of the landscape with the pure white comfort of her camouflage  – decorating green pines delicately with white, lacy patterns –

indeed all creatures, animals and people alike, fell quiet under this snow’s gentle spell, watching in wonder as she showered her covering, calming, quieting flakes over the earth – reminding us to take our winter’s nap before spring should rouse us awake again  . . .

calling us to the rest that precedes renewal – this snowfall made the barren beautiful to behold for a hushed, holy moment, while she blanketed earth with her beauty and asked nothing of us in return – not even shoveling her wayward flakes.  This time she stayed within our boundaries, as if some invisible hand had purposely placed each flake for maximum effect.  We were left perfectly decorated, silently spectating this winter spectacle – brought to us by snow –

thank you for this most unexpected good gift,  Snow Captain!

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow  . . . ?”  (Job 38:22)

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding.  He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ ”  (Job 37:5-6)

sincerely,      Grace Day