As a snowflake falls

Have you ever once commanded the morning to appear, and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the earth, to end the night’s wickedness? Have you ever robed the dawn in red? Have you visited the treasuries of the snow, or seen where hail is made and stored? For I have reserved it for the time when I will need in war.
– Job 38:12-14; 22,23 (TLB)

The Holiday Season is that special time when many gather to sing (or listening to) songs of merriment near a Christmas tree; to anticipate the opening and the giving of gifts, and to reflect most importantly on the birth of Jesus Christ rather than a jolly old man in a red suit coming down the chimney. This is the popular time of the year too when potential snow fall stirs the youngster and those young at heart to recall memories of being outside either throwing snow balls or making a snow man. Winter time, or course, is a calendar occurrence and one would (inevitably?) run into to some snow on the ground. Whenever it is predicted that either a light or heavy accumulation of snow will fall, my expectations rise to the surface to see another manifestation of God’s sovereignty and status as the supreme originator. For you see, God is the one who made good everything that he has created. The formation of a single snowflake constitutes yet another aspect of God’s masterful design and artistry.

I had the good fortune to share a breakfast meal with some special friends about several weeks ago while we were on the grounds of Lake Junaluska. The subject of snowflakes came up as the word had gotten around that snow would fall in the area. I had gotten up around 5:15 and strolled around the lake (layered sufficiently-of course) and just happened to see some noticeable flurries, which were highly visible near a stationary light fixture. The artificial light illuminated the snowflakes. I gazed at it for a moment; then switched on my trusty flashlight to further enhance what I saw. Giving God the glory, I shared my experience with the Rev. Jim Trollinger, Rev. Fred Jordan, and Rev. Dr. Sam Moore – members of the Bishop’s cabinet.

Rev. Trollinger asked,“Frederick, do you think it is possible to declare two snowflakes as “identical?” Very quickly I said No, but wasn’t sure if I had a leg to stand on. “Now, I’m giving you an assignment to find out whether this is true,” said brother Trollinger. “While you are at it Frederick (if you-in your research-find two that are identical), do a drawing of it,” declared Rev. Jordan. Wow! This is was heavy stuff! I remember Rev. Dr. Sam Moore saying that he would be interested in knowing what I would come up with. In the back of my mind, I knew that beyond a shadow of doubt that my distinguished friends knew what the answer was- a resounding “no!” Yet the notion of two snowflakes being identical was an excellent topic of discussion in that snow is a miracle process from God.

I discovered (from “All about Ice,” New Scientist, September 6, 1993) that a single snowflake is a pile of crystals consisting of more than 200 ice crystals. Snowflakes are made up of water molecules that are shaped in a perfect order. Snowflakes, one of nature’s true architectural wonders, are shaped when water vapor gets cold while passing through the clouds. This takes place when [passing through the clouds] water molecules scattered everywhere in a disorganized way [throughout water vapor] begin to lose their random movement due to the fall in temperature. After a while, the water molecules, moving more slowly, begin to form groups and consequently become solid. Yet there is no disorder whatsoever in their grouping. On the contrary, they always unite as microscopic hexagonal forms that look similar to each other. Each snowflake at first consists of a single hexagonal water molecule, and then other hexagonal water molecules come and attach to this first piece.

What is the bottom line? Experts who think it’s likely that no two snowflakes are alike believe it’s all about numbers. Snowflakes form in different shapes depending on air temperatures and humidity levels during the formation process. I understand that many of these tiny wonders do not go through the complete formation process. When they don’t, they automatically fall to the ground in a fairly simplified state of development and have a similar appearance to each other – at least when compared with their well-formed siblings. So, from this resource, the experts declared that is virtually impossible that no two snowflakes ever looked alike.

My total reflection as taken from Job 38:12-14; 22, 23:

As a Snowflake Falls

As a snowflake falls covering me and the ground…I look around and instantly agree–God loves me. I will not question nor will I put God to the test …for I am unique and different endeavoring to please, but always on my knee. The snowflake melts perhaps in an instance but God created it and me perfect in his plan. For he who works so skillfully to make perfect every small speck of snow can’t be different in His works for every man. God knows every single detail down to the very last …so when something has come up and it is so puzzling and you’re at a loss, relook at a snowflake and surrender….for God is the boss.
Our God is a Masterful Creator who knows every minute detail in my life and your life…He has been developing our character like Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. So as a snowflake falls to the ground and you look up and down; praise God because life’s victory has been won. Thank you Father God for your perfection and care, which you have placed for the entire world to see-even a tiny snowflake serving as a reminder that heaven is a place where true believers will share.

Selah

Experience of the Cross

And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentile as well as Jew] to myself. – John 12:32 (The Amplified Bible)

The recent theme of the 2010 Multicultural Conference at Lake Junaluska was “Embracing Christ’s Multi-Ethnic Body: Breaking Down Barriers and Building Bridges.” A program of the SEJ of the United Methodist Church, the December 2-4, 2010 Conference provided an opportunity for competent lay and ordained leaders to be further enlightened (and empowered) in response to the continuously changing diversity.

As I reflected from the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday encounter (Wednesday was a day of facilitator training), the words enlightenment and empowerment are significant. I was enlightened to see that dismantling racial prejudice is a personalized process that undermines how one is able to effectively co-exist with someone from another race - I might add in a church setting. Nevertheless, how can one effectively [or should I say – loving] co-exist with someone unlike him or her unless he or she has experienced the Cross of Christ? I’m sure you remember the chorus lines from the familiar Church song At the Cross that said:

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!

Without a doubt, this powerful refrain should empower an individual to dismantle (break down) any and all walls of hate, prejudice, envy, malice, pride, resentment, etc that only cripples and renders ineffectiveness. Joy comes when the Cross of Christ becomes a light, a burden lifter, and a tool of spreading the Gospel. How effectively can the Cross of Christ (the Crucifix) be a tool for spreading the Gospel? How effectively can it evoke the message of sacrificial love?

With a noticeable crucifix around his neck, Stephen and I [just minutes before the Opening worship service on Thursday, December 2nd] entered into a brief conversation about the kindred spirit that exists among those truly touched by the light of Christ. About how the Christ in us is exemplified by the way we carry ourselves. As time passed on, I learned further that my white brother was the Pastor of Carter County Parish- United Methodist Churches: St. Paul-Waatauga Pt.-Hunter-Slages - Johnson City District, Holston Conference. I remember saying how much I admired the cross he was wearing and he began to explain how it came about. This is how my brother and friend, the Rev. Stephen P. Burkhart, put it in written form (as I asked him to) so that you can get the full picture of his witness. This is how he explained why “I like that Cross”:

The summer of ’96, the Holston Annual Conference was a day away and I found my 14 year old son Kevin working in the garage. When I asked him what he was doing and reminded him to put the tools back, He showed two crosses he had made from a piece of cedar scrap wood with natural twine lanyard. “ One is for you Dad, and one is for me. It took you a long time to decide to be a Preacher, so I made this for you when you are on the stage. I am with you!”

At the Conference, I took my place with other new Local Pastors who were asked to come up on the stage and be recognized and introduced. At the end of the brief ceremony, I was returning to my seat and an old man jumped up and hugged me with tears in his eyes. “ I am so proud of you!” he said. “ Thanks, but I don’t know you mister!” I responded. He held me by my shoulders, looked into my eyes and said “ You are the only one up there that had a cross on. When did we become ashamed to show who we work for? And I feel bad, because I left my cross at home on a dresser…but I am very proud of you, Pastor!” . I reluctantly took the cross off my son had given me, and put it around the old man’s neck. He cried, smiled, hugged me again and took his seat. I returned to my seat, to meet my son now standing. He took his cross from around his neck, and placed it around mine. I started to resist and he said “ Like I said Dad, I am with you!”

Many years have passed and I have learned to take some time to whittle once in a while. It has become a form of prayer. And I make many crosses. Mostly now, I use old forsythia bush branches. They are easy to whittle and notch together, and make a natural looking cross.

One of my joys is to give the crosses to anyone who notices it. I love to see the smiles and tears of joy from cashiers, store, clerks, children, and just folks I bump into as I take the cross and hand it to them.

Some 14 years after my son made those first two crosses, I met a man as I entered the welcome center at Lake Junaluska to register for this Multicultural Conference. The man glowed with the light of Christ and greeted me….and it was real. It took the edge off my fears and doubts as to whether a 300 pound German/Scotch/Irish hillbilly would be welcomed here. He reminded me of many years ago when I was greeted as a new Local Pastor by a stranger, and the many men and women servant-leaders God has placed in my life this 14 year journey from Engineer to Local Pastor to Elder. He was there and gone. But I was blessed to give a cross away at the registration table. And as I write, I am out of crosses as I have passed them on to several folks at this conference. But forsythia grows really fast!

Many thousands of crosses later, I ponder that the cross is not something to just display. What would happen if in our doubts, in our trials, and in our journey we could remember that the cross is something to share? If we just let folks know that God is always saying “ I am with you!” We could do that!

Just after the closing session on Saturday, December 4th, Stephen said, “Brother Fred, you and I have a connection now!” Meaning that after all that had been said and done at the conferece, the experience of the cross allowed us to be spiritually bound and most importantly to live out what Jesus said, And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentile as well as Jew] to myself. Selah