Blizzard Update

Got your attention, huh??

Yes, for you northerners, and inch in the south is the equivalent of a blizzard. Every school within range closes the day before. There is no milk or bread to be found. Nobody can drive in these conditions. It makes the national news.

Life stands still temporarily as snow falls down here. It is such a rarity, an infrequency, that we can only stop what we are doing to digest it in. For all of you who receive any normal amount of accumulation, we are foolish. I will not disagree with you. But, this how things are, and we relish that. That one precious inch of snow becomes the stories that grandchildren hear.

I didn't have to come to work until 12:00 today. More people who work in Dalton live outside of Dalton, so there is an allowance made. It just meant I would be able to sleep late for one more day this week. But on my way to work -- God got my attention.

I absolutely love to watch cooking shows. I have my preferences -- Giada ("Everyday Italian"), Ina Garten ("Barefoot Contessa"), Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, and the ever-incomparable Julia Child. Each of them brings a style to their cooking, making it delectable enough to eat right through the television screen. But I became a Julia Child fan a long time ago, before the Food Network's debut, as she had shows that aired regularly on public television. I would waste time on Saturday just watching her make lots of things, mostly French things that I cannot pronounce, as I would sit, stare, and salivate at the TV. But I loved to watch her make desserts. The time and attention she put into those things was relentless, and her strive for perfection. But Julia love to "dust" her cakes, by using a simple strainer and powder sugar or cocoa. It was always the final touch to a cake, or pie, or tart.

This morning on my way to work (I have a 45 minute drive down a wide, two-lane highway), I realized that God had dusted my surroundings. Everything was covered lightly in this white sift, and all that normally seemed camouflaged, suddenly sprang to my attention. Houses that I didn't know existed were no longer hidden behind shrouds of green and brown. They were exposed. Naked. Visible. Even the woods were unveiled as the snow illuminated fallen branches and trees and exposed what lied around.

And then, God spoke to me. No audible voice (I would pee in my pants or explode from the glory) -- but the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart that, this is what God has been trying to do in me. He's been dusting me, exposing everything in my life, so that I become truly aware and that He can begin to make things new. And that's what He's doing. Spring is coming. New life is coming. Blossoms and blooms, new shoots, growth, color, brilliance -- it's all coming. But before that "new" can come, the old has to pass away. And be Exposed.

I love how God speaks so loudly through creation. He will go to any length possible to get our attention. Even with snow.