::snow::

lately, i have found myself in a bit of a rut. the ending of a semester brings with it a multitude of factors. one of them, in powerful strength, is business. papers take up much more space on my hard-drive than i ever expected. exams loom around the corner. and time is invested within the demands of 'finishing strong.' it all seems quite normal to the typical college student. something we must expect with the territory we have chosen. simple logic.

yet, for me the end of this semester has brought a particular sense of stress that i have not been able to shake nor understand for the past few days. yet, as i sit in peaceful silence today i become clearly aware of the state my circumstances have produced. so caught up in the stringent requirements of papers, exams, assignments, and quizzes, i quickly lost time. as i invested more and more time into school, i lost more and more time with our beautiful Saviour. soon, i found myself going days without a real, meaningful interaction with our Father. instead, the load of classes seemed to be a heavy burden to bear and stress crept in.

i became overwhelmed with the tasks at hand. barely able to concentrate. deadlines, flying at record speed towards me, seemed too close to meet. and i became completely aware of my own futility. i was weary. and growing more and more so daily. until today. a day of beauty, peace, revelation, and recovery...

_____________________

my parents are currently out of town, visiting some relatives half-way around the world in the beautiful country of south africa. now, this leaves me with the task of arising every day at four am to let my not-yet-potty-trained pup outside. this morning, i arose about a half hour late. stumbling out of bed, i grabbed a coat and slipped on my boots, remembering to grab some treats to thwart dalton's nipping habit. anyway, as we both sleepily headed out the front door, i was peacefully stunned.

there was an undisturbed dusting of snow upon the ground and snowflakes lightly descending from the heavens above. it was a tranquil moment, undeniably drenched in the presence of our God. i quickly became lost in the scene, taking it all in. the still night sky, muddled with the overlapping of fluffy clouds, a hint of the early morning light breaking through as beautiful white fluttered down around me. hmmm, it was simply breathtaking. i could have stood there, lost in that beauty for eternity. but, a light tug on the leash i was apparently still holding onto caught my attention. and there was my pup, enjoying God's reminder of his glorious beauty as well...except dalton chose to appreciate it by pouncing around, attacking the snow, and upsetting the serenity of it all. yet, his joyful disposition at this wondrous new thing brought a smile to my face. God's power was undaunting. in one moment he managed to remind me of so much...his presence, his beauty, his peace, his joy, his sustenance. he truly is everything.

when i awoke again at seven this morning to fully start my day, i was filled with an undeniable calm. and, i knew it came from my wondrous encounter only a few hours before. as the day progressed, i became clearly aware of the lifted burden from my shoulders. suddenly, school seemed to be but a tiny task in the beautiful day ahead. nothing seemed to matter quite as much as our LORD, who once again came to take the throne upon my life. for we are not meant to be ruled by the things of this world, but rather by our heavenly Father. all else will fade, and only he will stand...in stunning brilliance.

although the world may try to beat the truth out of us, it still remains: he is all we need.

"and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:7