Snow Muse 雪景沉思
Dexu Xia
He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth,” and to the rain shower, “Be a mighty downpour.” Job 37:6
Named for a tough blue-collar neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, the grassroots musical group Over the Rhine sings about a transformation that took place each year in the city. “Whenever we’d get our first real snowfall of the year, it felt like something sacred was happening,” explains band co-founder Linford Detweiler. “Like a little bit of a fresh start. The city would slow down and grow quiet.”
If you’ve experienced a heavy snowfall, you understand how it can inspire a song. A magical quietness drapes the world as snow conceals grime and grayness. For a few moments, winter’s bleakness brightens, inviting our reflection and delight.
Elihu, the one friend of Job who may have had a helpful view of God, noted how creation commands our attention. “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways,” he said (Job 37:5). “He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ ” Such splendor can interrupt our lives, demanding a sacred pause. “So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor,” Elihu observed (vv. 6–7).
Nature sometimes seizes our attention in ways we don’t like. Regardless of what happens to us or what we observe around us, each moment—magnificent, menacing, or mundane—can inspire our worship. The poet’s heart within us craves the holy hush.
What events or things motivate you to ponder God’s greatness and creativity? How can you experience His wonder in your ordinary moments today?
Father, help me to see Your hand in everything today. Give me a heart to appreciate Your amazing works
祂对雪说：“要降在地上”，对大雨和暴雨也是这样说。—约伯记37章6节
草根乐团“飞越莱茵”（Over the Rhine）的名字，取自美国俄州一个治安很差的蓝领社区。乐团藉着歌曲唱出这个城市每一年的转变。乐团的一位创始人解释道：“每年冬天，当我们目睹初雪落下，仿佛进入神圣的时刻。随着城市的步调渐缓，一切的噪音都沉寂下来，好像进入新的起点。”
若你曾看过大雪纷飞的情景，就会明白这如何触动人写下歌曲。大雪覆盖了污秽与灰暗，一种奇妙的宁静笼罩整个世界。片刻之间，寒冬的萧瑟凄凉转为明亮，引发人们沉思并带来愉悦。
约伯的朋友以利户对上帝有较正确的认识，他认为上帝创造的大自然会吸引我们的注意。他说：“上帝发出奇妙的雷声”（约伯记37章5节）；“[上帝]对雪说：‘要降在地上’，对大雨和暴雨也是这样说”（6节）。这些壮观的景象会迫使我们暂停手边的事务，进入神圣的时刻。以利户观察到：“祂封住各人的手，叫所造的万人都晓得祂的作为。”（7节）
有时候，大自然引人注意的方式并不总是让人欢欣愉悦。但无论我们面对何事，或从周遭观察到什么，那宏伟壮观、令人惊恐或平凡无奇的每一刻，其实都能激发我们对上帝的崇敬。我们内心的诗人情怀，正切慕着神圣的静默。
哪些事物能激发你思想上帝的伟大及创意？
今天，你如何从平淡的生活中体会上帝的奇妙？
求祢使我的心能欣赏祢奇妙的作为