Snowflake Designer

This is one of my best years for Christmas ever. Family, counting blessings and getting snowed in are what made it. With few cars on the road I put on my boots and walked to a place that was open for breakfast. My pants legs got covered with snow. It was cold and windy but fantastic being outside and feeling a bit like I lived in a different era when things were not so fast paced and people actually walked places and took their time interacting with others. I love the way snow unobtrusively portrays peace and quiet.  One has to respect snow when it calmly blankets the earth.

We moderns are way too cut off from nature for our own good. As I watched the snow falling outside the large window in the breakfast place I remembered that every single snowflake that has ever fallen is one of a kind just like people are one of a kind. Unfathomable! This is the sort of intellectual reality that challenges any vestiges of agnosticism or atheism. Whenever I feel doubt about whether God exists, who He is or what He is really like I start asking myself intellectual questions. It never takes long to be reminded of what is true if we face facts. How could every snowflake that has ever fallen throughout history be one of a kind, having its own signature? And why would it matter when the naked eye can’t tell the difference anyway? Only one explanation-there has to be a snowflake designer who can see and enjoy each one without needing a microscope or magnifying glass.

So there I was finishing breakfast when the place announced they were closing early due to weather conditions and were therefore giving away the breads, croissants, bagels and pastries that were baked the night before. Everything had to be used or thrown away (here we are again in our throw-away culture). I and others that were there filled bags with goodies to carry home. Then a few of us went behind the counter and announced to those coming in the door in the nick of time that they could select whatever they wanted for free. What fun pretending I worked there and giving out freebies. Then some of us loaded the remains into large boxes that one person drove to a church and homeless shelter. I like this place but respect them all the more for literally going the extra mile in inclement weather to give the food to people who can use it rather than doing the easy thing by throwing it in the trash. This was Panera Bread (they deserve some media kudos for the way they operate) and here are a few photos of the cozy place of beautiful smells.

Panera Bread

Panera Bread in the 2010 Christmas snow

The White Christmas dream come true.

Snow -Christmas 2010