I was beginning to think winter was going to for the most part pass us by, but yesterday we got six inches of the fluffy, white stuff. It’s absolutely beautiful in our valley right now, with snow piled on roof tops and tree branches and the brown earth covered in white.
For many of us who live in the Northwest, winter is a mixed blessing. We need a heavy snowpack to ensure our irrigation ditches are filled in the summer. Also, the snow is good for the ski resorts and the local economy in general. At the same time winter comes with some drawbacks. Clearing 6 inches of snow of your car at 6 AM, scrapping layers of ice off windshields, and an icy commute to work are just a few winter annoyances that come to mind.
It would be easy to let these winter hardships blind us to the beauty of this time of year. Likewise, it’s easy to lose sight of God’s many blessings when things don’t go right, bills pile up, or sickness strike.
How we react to setbacks and challenges depends on where we are focusing our attention. If my eyes are fixed on the icy path or the snow blocking my way I may miss the beauty of the sun shining off the snow or a little bird balanced on a snow-covered branch. Similarly, if my focus is on my problems, I may lose sight of my Heavenly Father, the Problem Solver.
What about you? What are you looking at today? Are your eyes on roadblocks or the One who clears the way before you? Are you focused on the troubles in your life or the One who came that you “may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10)?
Today, instead of the dirty, slush covered roads, let’s focus on the beauty of snow-covered fields, And, instead of looking at the problems in our path, let’s “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” Psalm 105:4 NIV. If we just fix our eyes on Jesus, it’s going to be a beautiful day!