The winter snow
brings a stillness
a quiet in the air
as sounds that normally travel
echoing through the valley
are muffled and muted
by the soft white blanket
of cold and calm
a reminder
that God moves in whispers
like a snowflake settling
upon a leaf
~Robert Van Valkenburgh
Reflection: God provides moments throughout the hours, days, weeks, months, and years for us to pause and experience his loving presence. But he will not force himself upon us. He will not make us see, hear, or feel his presence. As contemporary mystic, James Finley says, “Love is never imposed, it’s always offered.” God makes no demands of us. Instead, he invites us. He invites us into relationship with him, into presence with him, and into union with him. We are free to consent, or not. His love, however, never ceases. That is his gift to us, both that he does not stop pursuing us in love, and that we are free to turn away.
In our busy, overly full lives, however, it can be extremely difficult to have the presence and awareness to appreciate his presence. But every once in a while, in moments of graced clarity, something of his light pierces through the veil of ambition, anxiety, and anticipation we have created for ourselves, and we are forced to pause. These moments, ever so brief, can feel like an eternity — and perhaps they are a glimpse into eternity — and, if we allow them to, can change us forever, if we consent. When God smiles at us through a summer sunset at the beach, a bird’s song, the sound of children playing, or the winter snow falling gently on the ground and trees, we can choose to turn away, back toward our busy, oh so important lives, or we can choose to smile back. God is waiting for us to smile back.
Question for Meditation: How have the quiet places in your life—where noise falls away—revealed God’s presence to you?
Related Bible Verse: “After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a gentle whisper.” — 1 Kings 19:12 (NIV)
For Further Reading: If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy Lectio: By Their Fruits on Grappling With Divinity — A reflective meditation rooted in Matthew 7:17–20 that explores how the spiritual life bears visible fruit in character and action, helping readers contemplate how their own lives reflect Christ’s presence and transformative work.
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