Fire and Ice

 

Fire and Ice   

One of the most intriguing, fascinating and frightening aspects of Nature is its complexity.  It is untamable.  It remains unpredictable.  Its contrast is overwhelming.  Humans are drawn to Nature. We fear it.  We resist it.  We find it beautiful and yet menacing.  We accuse it of being heartless, but then find in it tenderness.  We turn our eyes from what we claim is Godlessness, only to fix our gaze on the obvious presence of the Divine.  I think that it is true that our extreme reactions to the extremes of Nature is that both the challenging and inviting realities of Nature remind us that we are after all is said – quite small.    

This past week we experienced the largeness of Nature when a strong storm system came through that brought snow and rain and worst of all, and perhaps most beautiful of all – ice.

Spring snow is always a threat to the trees because it is usually wet and heavy.  It can accumulate especially on the pine and evergreen branches.  But ice buildup threatens all trees.  Even the birch that sway in the strongest of gales, shedding off the rain and refusing to hold the snow, stiffen and become brittle with accumulating ice.  The mighty oaks do not have the strength to hold up branches weighted by ice.  Entire trees can be bent over mercilessly and snapped off.

Perhaps it was a prayer.  Perhaps it calmed an inner fear.  Perhaps it was an admission that most of what we can do is ridiculously little in the expanse of Nature, but I built a fire.  Flames dancing and a building ember bed of glowing coals was good for my heart as my gaze shifted between the fire and the window.  One must not get lost in romance when the threat is more than real for thousands without power and the many emergency workers who are at risk as they work in the teeth of the storm to restore others to safety.  I admit my littleness, but yet put another log on the fire, and say another prayer of protection for those who need it most.  Do what you can and must do.

When the storm finally subsided on the third day, it was the contrast of Nature that demanded the eye.  A yard full of trees, all encased in ice.  It took two full days as the daytime temperature edged to 40 degrees to finally thaw the threat.  Yes, we are a little less than angels, but that can still be small.

“O LORD, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth!  I will sing of your majesty above the heavens 3with the mouths of babes and infants.  You have established a bulwark against your foes, to silence enemy and avenger.  When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place—What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him?  Yet you have made him little less than a god, crowned him with glory and honor.  You have given him rule over the works of your hands, put all things at his feet: All sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.  O LORD, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth!” Psalm 8:1-10 

His Peace <><

Deacon Dan