People cringe when I tell them that I love winter but I truly do. Maybe winter is just in my blood. I was born in Northern Ontario. I also made an active choice in my twenties to embrace the cold and get outside as much as possible during the winter months. A good coat, warm boots, a scarf and a toque open up a whole new world. As my friend, Ed Lewis, likes to say, “There is no such thing as bad weather. There is only inappropriate clothing.” Living in Canada and disliking winter means nearly half of every year wasted, hiding inside, longing for June.
So bring on the snow!
Have you ever considered that even a blustery, frosty, cold, ice-laden, snow covered day can actually point to the glory of our good God?
Benedicite Ominia Opera
Our Book of Common Prayer includes a canticle called Benedicite Ominia Opera. The canticles are known by their Latin names and the Latin names come from the first verse of the song. Here is the Benedicite Ominia Opera in it’s entirety,
O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord:
Praise him, and magnify him forever.
O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord:
O ye waters that be above the firmament,
O all ye powers of the Lord,
O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord
Praise him, and magnify him forever.
O ye showers and dew, O ye winds of God,
O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord:
O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord:
O ye dews and frosts, bless ye the Lord:
O ye frosts and cold, bless ye the Lord: O ye ice and snow,
Praise him, and magnify him forever.
O ye nights and days, O ye light and darkness,
O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord:
Praise him, and magnify him forever.
O let the earth bless the Lord:
yea, let it praise him and magnify him forever,
O ye mountains and Hills,
O all ye green things upon the earth,
O ye wells, O ye seas and floods,
O ye whales, and all that move in the waters,
O al ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord:
O all ye beasts and cattle, O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord:
Praise him, and magnify him forever.
O let Israel bless the Lord: Praise him and magnify him forever.
O ye priests of the Lord, O ye servants of the Lord,
O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord:
Praise him, and magnify him forever.
O ye holy and humble men of heart.
O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord:
Praise him, and magnify him forever.
The Point?
The point? Everything praises the Lord and magnifies him forever! Heavens, waters, sun, moon, showers, dew, fire, heat, mountains, hills, green things, wells, whales, beasts and cattle all exist in an elegant, intricate, glorious dance displaying the praise and glory of their God. And, did you notice it? Yes, even “O ye frosts and cold … O ye ice and snow, praise him, and magnify him forever.”
“I am reminded on days like today that there’s not a random or rogue molecule in the universe.”
I am reminded on days like today that there’s not a random or rogue molecule in the universe. Every snow flake in my shovel, every icicle hanging from my roof, every breath of wind blowing through my back yard – each and every one! – serve their Lord and Master. Their Lord and Master is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who’s rule and reign is comprehensive, encompassing everything he made. It all bows to Him. It all serves Him and His good purposes. That is not just true of molecules but of moments, too.
Every Mundane Detail
Snow days, snow flakes, frost, ice and wind play themselves out in God’s world to the praise and glory of his name. Every joy, every sorrow, every mundane detail in your world praises and magnifies him forever, too. Even the warm comfort of hot chocolate and the sweetness of the marshmallows point to and magnify him. Feast your heart on the praise and glory of your God, magnified in all of His works!
O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: Praise him, and magnify him forever!
