I nearly passed right by it. Taking an early spring hike, we found there was still a considerable amount of snow on the ground, so we put on our snowshoes and trudged up the hill, maneuvering over the slushy drifts. The wet, soft snow was difficult to move through, and we had to step carefully to avoid tripping.
Climbing to the top of the ridge, I stopped to rest and catch my breath. Below us, the hill descended steeply, snow lying in piles up to two feet deep. I started down the hill, skirting the trees and trying to follow the tracks of previous hikers. In front of me, the dogs had spooked a rabbit, and they took off after it in hot pursuit. Watching them, I stepped forward and caught the edge of my snowshoe. In the mushy snow, there was little I could do except fall (I didn’t say I was a competent snow-shoer…..) so falling down is what I did, falling face first under a tree.
And there it was…right in front of me in the shelter of a juniper tree under which most of the snow had disappeared: a lone buttercup, delicate yellow petals cradled in startling green leaves-an unexpected expression of beauty in the wintry landscape.
Isaiah 35: 1-2: The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the desert will rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy….they will see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
Sometimes we best see the majesty of God when we have fallen with our faces to the ground…..
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