The Sound of Silence
Silent. Soft swirls encircle the trees. Quietly the flakes drift like wafers on piles of whipped cream. Building without a sound until one by one they heap up softly curved drifts that reach windowpanes and block doorways.
The only sound heard is the whipping wind whistling round the corners of the house and through the gaping meadows. The roaring wind drives gentleness across the landscape. Trees bend white, skies are whisked gray, the visible becomes invisible.
We slide into the warmth of our car scooped out from frozen dollops of creamy white. The silent falls. Now heavier than earlier. Quiet tension fills the car as white swoops across the highway. Yellow stripes covered. Familiar land marks, exits all cloaked in a veil of white The quiet broken by the rhythmic smack of wipers feebly clearing our vision. Words are few. Concern for a passable exit.
Be still and know that He is God.
He is the God who releases snow from the storehouses of heaven ( Job 38:22).
“He spreads the snow like wool…” Psalm 147:16 NIV
We breathe easier. Warm vapors meet chilled windows. Misty clouds form.
I whisper a prayer of thanks~for all who did not venture out for His sacred presence at the funeral. He is here. In the quiet white. In the protection. In the cousins who carefully carry our lives in their car.
Will this winter white bring a peace? Will I see the sound of gentleness? Feel the play of wonderland? My first White almost Christmas buried in so many feelings.
It seems an eternity of slapping wiper sounds, whooshing fan blowing warmth into our car. Then the long awaited exit. The softer mounds, the bowing trees relax our taught muscles. Hope is ahead. Home is close.
Just down the blanketed road. Not far. A shovel. A snowblower. A half hour. The car creeps along this familiar street.
In moments, I’ll hear the silence of snow and watch the wind swirl dusts of white powder round the warm lights becokning welcome.
Tomorrow, I’ll hear the wind-sculpted snow layered beneath the bright sparkling sun.
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV
A glimpse at our adventure in the Winter Wonderland of Minnesota’s 4th worst blizzard.
Linking up with “Ears of a Photo” at High Calling Focus and Imperfect Prose on Thursday
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And we are gearing up for another one!
The photos are beautiful and I’m glad you are safe.
Blessings for 2011.
Look at you! You’re SO cute!!
Janis, these were really lovely pictures. I know you must have been freezing cold – but the white snow just looked so beautiful and serene.
I especially loved the last Scripture you shared from Isaiah. What a wonderful promise. God’s Word will not return empty. It will accomplish His purposes.
I’m taking that as an inspiration for blogging in 2011 – that God will bless us as He speaks HIS Word through us, and accomplishes HIS purposes.
Happy New Year!
And GOD BLESS!
What a great expression and well written experience you had in Minnesota.
I could feel the tenseness, the anticipation the calm and then the peace.
Great pictures and scriptures. Well done, friend. Love you!
~Ceal~
I love this post! Wonderful, descriptive words and photos I wanted to jump into (since I love snow). Thank you for taking us on the adventure with you. Blessings!
gorgeous writing, dear janis. i sunk into the comfort of your words. love to you, friend.
Sue~Bundle up for that new storm! I heard it’s a humdinger!
Ceal~My dear friend, thank you for your heartfelt comments. They bless me as does our friendship that has spanned many decades. God bless you in the New Year!
Sharon~So good to hear from you. I didn’t notice the cold so much until I took my glove off to take photos!! My fingers almost experienced frost bite! Silly me.
Thank you for your foresight gleaned from the Isaiah Scripture. Now, I’m excited about His words funneling through me. What a blessing for 2011.
Angel~So glad you had fun wanting to jump into the snow–figuratively. It was beautiful, and if we had made the trip for different reasons, I think I would have “played” more in the snow. It was so creamy and smooth, I didn’t want to even leave a footprint!
emily~Thank you, emily. Your words of encouragement spur me on. Praying you are finding comfort in many ways these days.
Happy New Year to All,
Janis
Janis, This is beautiful — both words and pictures. I was there with you on that drive, in that blizzard. And the picture of the sculpted snow? That one is especially gorgeous.
Love to you today!
wow. cool pics…esp the wind sculpted snow…the thing with storms is they make us slow down…and i think that is a good thing…
the last two pictures are my favourite, and i love the verse about He spreads the snow like wool. i will remember that for the next winter driving experience.
Oh, wow. I love this!! The snow seems to make me feel kind of pensive too… though we don’t have nearly as much of it as you do!
Janis – thank you for stopping by my blog, Reflections and leaving a comment. Your photos are beautiful!
I recently began a new blog to feature my photos and a bit of writing that doesn’t fit into the inspirational/devotional category. Come visit sometime at http://withpenandcamera.wordpress.com.
Blessings,
Joan
Your pictures are amazing. I didn’t know a blizzard could be so beautiful…in words and pictures.
so glad you linked this, friend.
Hi Janis and thank you for your kind comment tonight. These snow photos are so pretty and what a great photo of you. It is so nice to visit your blog and I recognize many of your followers from Spiritual Sundays. I am located in north GA and yes, we are snowed in this week! I look forward to following you and I hope you have a restful evening.
Absolutely gorgeous pictures of winter. My favorite time of year!
Joan! YES we did use the same verse! I lived in Chicago for awhile but never brave enough to do Minnesota! It’s gorgeous really….Loved those swirling pics!
peace!
Stay warm!! Spring is coming!!
lori
Thank you for bringing me to this post Janis. There is a similarity. 🙂
One good thing about these weather events is that they show the glory and power of God in so many ways. I love the scriptures you shared and the photos of the sculpting of the snow by the winds. Those photos could easily have been taken at my house. 😉
May your week be filled with extraordinary God moments!
~Diane