As we drove through the snow, Ezekiel asked me the difference between snow and ice. “They are both frozen water.”

I tried to explain the formation of snow and ice. With snow, the individual water drops freeze high in the air. There they crystalize into flakes that fall and pile up into a blanket (staying as separate individual pieces). But ice happens on the ground. The water pools together and freezes into a solid block. Multiple drops — gallons molded as one sheet.

I am not sure how much E listened. Because next he was asking if camouflage snowsuits were sparkly, like real snow? Hard to imagine sparkly navy seals…

But his question got me thinking. Our driving was slow, but safe on snow. If it was ice… we would have stayed home (or introduced the van to the ditch).

What if there was only ice? Could you imagine this week’s blanket of snow as ice? Every winter storm would be an emergency! Would we be better ice skaters? Would cars have tank treads instead of wheels? Would we just migrate with the birds?

The snow, which led us to cancel in person worship, had me frustrated. But ice blankets would be worse! And, with my routines changing, I was forced to pause. Did God create snow for this purpose of reflection?

Ezekiel is right. Snow sparkles as each flake reflects the sun. This makes our coldest days the brightest. — May I willingly pause and allow Light’s revelation!