White as Snow
by Becca Whitham
Snow arrived here in Colorado Springs last night. There is something so beautiful about a snow-covered scene. The fresh, clean white covering dirt, debris, cracks and all sorts of imperfections. It’s a picture of how God sees us when we have allowed the sacrifice of Christ to cover us and make us clean.
As I was outside sweeping snow off the driveway today, an idea came to me. It’s not a great analogy, by any means, because it only goes so far.
The snow plow came by as I was exposing the warped, cracked surface of my driveway, and it occurred to me how much effort goes into making sure we can get around town through shoveling and plowing. We take beautiful snow, push it aside, and get down to some pretty rough stuff in order to go about the business of living.
How often, as Christians, do we fail to help people get about the business of living by staying snow covered…by not disclosing the warped, cracked, rough places in our lives? We would much rather stay covered up. We are prettier that way, all pure and sparkly. Added to the ugliness it reveals, shoveling is plain, hard work. I was red in the face by the time I finished today.
I’m not suggesting we need to make public everything in our lives for the sake of those around us, just divulge enough to help them see a path, to be able to find the road.
Because what kind of people do we become when we are not willing to uncover some of our ugliness? In his book “What’s so Amazing about Grace?” Phillip Yancey wrote, “I rejected the church for a time because I found so little grace there. I returned because I found grace nowhere else.” People willing to admit their own sin do not despise other sinners.
So, revel in the beauty of the snow, just be sure to shovel enough of it away to clear a path for those needing to find a way to grace.
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Becca Whitham longs to be all God wishes. She blogs in order to be “accountabile” in the areas of Bible study, physical fitness and nutrition, writing for publication, and creative expression. She’d love for you to join her in learning what it means to be a woman after God’s own heart.
Visit Becca’s blog, Expressions, at http://becca-expressions.blogspot.com
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11 Comments until now.
This is so true. If our scars and imperfections are always hidden, it can hinder our ability to be a light to the world. How could perfection ever show the way for imperfect people? It is when we are authentic that walls can be broken down and the message of Christ received. I’ve written an article called Beautiful Scars to illustrate this topic on my blog.
I loved this! So beautifully written, so pure and clean, and so true! Thanks for sharing your snowy world so poetically, and your love of the Lord.
I battle finding a balance in this all the time. It would be so nice for others to be impressed once in awhile and yet I lean toward brutal honesty. A skeptic, I am always asking questions and analyzing. Maybe I reveal too much of myself and should spend a little time soaking up the loveliness of being clean in Christ for a moment before going off and asking the hard questions in bible study once again. What to do, what to do… Ah well, such is life.
This is a very nice analogy and a sweet insight. Thanks for sharing it!
It was such a pleasure, and a gentle reminder, to read this.
Thanks for posting this lovely, touching piece.
Thanks for this offering, Becca. I loved it! I thin, for me, there are levels of this revealing process depending upon how close the relationship is. I reveal the most to the people I’m closest to and trust the most. I also know I don’t grow in Christ if I don’t commit to this process. Glad to know Jesus sees me “white as snow”!
Becca,
What a good reminder to all of us to not be afraid to show some of our “cracks” and “rough patches.” I always love reading your work. Keep it up!
Wise, true words. I appreciate the insight and analogy gained from a routine, even tedious task. Thanks!
I’m trying to find that right balance as well. I use to have a blog which was extremely revealing but no followers. I think it scared everyone away. The blog I have now if much more sedate and safe but I’m not for sure how encouraging it is to others. Thanks for the insight and analogy. I’ll probably come back and read it a few more times.
I have started a twitter account @NewMeOldMe. The New Me is that snow covered scene you mention, but when things begin to fray at the edges, the Old Me is exposed. The world sees I am still a sinner and struggling with brokenness verses what God is trying to repair me to. The old analogy of the broken clay jar at play. Our journey to reach the destination is never seeming to be straight and narrow, yet we are reminded that the straight and narrow is the path to be on.
How provocative and beautifully written! It is powerful that you could take such a mundane task and apply it so uniquely to our daily life…truly this is a glimpse of God at work in you, and a blessing to others in their Christian journey.
I would love reading more from you, please. Will visit this blog more often in search of Becca Whitham!