old snow

'Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'*

^Photo taken in Leipzig, December 2012, by myself

Snow is soft, fresh, white, beautiful! I have thoroughly enjoyed it in the last few weeks and months. There is something magical and delightful about watching it fall, and seeing it cover the earth in a sparling blanket!

After a few hours, however, people come out and about. they clear the roads and footpaths of snow, so they don't slip. They pile the snow in mounds by the road side, people walk their dogs, dogs do their business. Tiny stones are scattered to keep the ground rough for walking on. The snow absorbs the dirt around it. And before long, it is no longer sparling clean, but a dirty, not-so-glittering pile of wet cold stuff... with a bit of white beautiful snow on the side!

The transformation has put me to thinking about the things that i don't like about myself that come into my life without me wanting them there. For instance, I hope to speak graciously to those around me, but find myself snapping and gossiping. There are many things that I do which I regret or dislike. St Paul puts this frustration nicely when he says,

'I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.'**

The truth is, I don't have the power or strength of will to change by myself. Only with Jesus do I get the forgiveness and become right with God and myself and others. Then I can feel like new snow. Fresh, sparkling, radiant, pure... but I get comfortable with everything. Like old snow, I lose track of time, I get distracted, I get lazy, I forget, I procrastinate!

I have to keep reminding myself not to get carried away or lose my stability, instead seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.*** The snow may look dirty and old, but the frozen water droplets will not stay that way forever. When the weather warms, they melt away, into the sifting soil, or evaporating back into the sky. Leaving behind the grime and dull stuff. In the same way, my life isn't perfect now, but One Day, it will be. Until then,

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.**** 

It's not an easy road to take, but It does have a positive end. If we do not lose hope and daily put aside our troubles and wrong doing, turning to the only One who can help; Jesus.
My hope for this year, is that I will be more disciplined and remember that putting faith in Jesus is not something I do once and don't worry about anymore, but something I do every day, denying self and following in His example.

*Luke 9:23
**Romans 7:15
***2 Peter 3:17-18
****Micah 6:8