GIANT SNOWFLAKES

The sky was clear. The air was crisp. It was a beautiful fall morning at Henry Cowell State Park. As I walked across the bridge the meadow came into sight and I was struck by a miracle! All across the expanse were what appeared to be giant snowflakes, delicately clinging to stalks of grass. Each one was at least 18 inches across. They were beautiful! And there were hundreds of them.

Now it was chilly (42 degrees, I had noted, as I left home) but not cold enough for snow. The “snowflakes” were actually huge spider webs, intricately woven, with pearls of dew strung on each line, shining in the sun. The sight was amazing!

I have never been afraid of spiders but neither am I a great fan of spiders. I am quick to knock them down with a broom, scoop them up in a tissue, and flush them down the toilet. But today I saw them through different eyes. Each spider in the meadow had carefully endeavored to do what it was created to do. It appeared that the Son looked down and with His radiance he gave a nod of approval and the result was a sight to behold! Each spider sat humbly in the middle of its web and basked in the joy of its creator. The creature that I usually would despise and dispose of was now a thing of beauty.

It struck me that as we do what we are created to do we too can bask in the favor of God. And what is it that He created us to do? It is answered in Micah 6:8 –

He has shown all you people 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.

As we do so we too may strike someone as a miracle and a thing of beauty. But more importantly, we will know the Lord’s pleasure shining down upon us.