Why do we gather? What makes gathering important as followers of Christ? Today, I’m sharing an interesting perspective that I gathered (ha!) by talking with the snow.
Why do we gather?
When I think of gathering, I think of coming together to celebrate something, like a birthday or a baptism. Or gathering to mourn with those that mourn, in a funeral or after a loss. People also gather for sports or political events or in protest. Some people even gather things, to create a collection of something. We also gather for safety, for warmth, for community. In the fall, we gather the harvest for the winter.
I love the analogy in the scriptures of Jesus gathering us as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings. And I especially love Ephesians 1:10 which reads, “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”
I have the great blessing of gathering stories, and sharing them, that they may be gathered in. This particular day, I was surprised to learn that I could listen to the snow. I so enjoyed it’s message, that I’m sharing it here as I originally recorded it. You’ll notice the fun personality the snow has! What do you hear the snow say about gathering?
The power and fun in gathering
December 4, 12:26pm, Vander Veer park. I am the only one here because it's 10 degrees below zero and I had no intention of coming here or of leaving the house today. But the Lord was teaching me about listening to my heart. And my heart said, I want to go outside for a walk in the snow. When I listened, I could tell that that was true because it felt like fun and it felt expansive and it felt good. So here I am in the snow.
The spirit has impressed me to talk with the snow, which I would never have thought of. I thought that I was going to talk with the trees. Instead, I am going talk with the snow!
We are wonderful. We are divine. We're kind of like bees and rain and even sunshine. Little bits of many pieces all wrapped up to look like one. We're not separate or apart. We're a group. We're a community! We have more fun that way.
Can you imagine if there was just one snowflake? What would one snowflake be able to do? Nothing. We can't do anything on our own. We have no impact by ourselves. In fact, the more of us there are, the better the impact. Wouldn't you agree? It is so much more divine and more beautiful when we are all together as one. Do you not think that humans could learn some lessons from this?
Leaves. Air, wind, sunshine, clouds, rain, snow. If there's just one of each of these things, what have you? What have ye? Pretty much nothing. Nothing that can have any impact or do any good or create any change or even be noticed or seen. One is so lonely and so sad. So unencumbered but unfruitful.
You don't even have to be multiplied to be many. You just need to gather others like you. Gather, gather, gather, gather, gather, gather, gather. It's so much fun to be gathered together. We enjoy being like this. We have fun creating like this. We have fun being seen like this. We are one in many. We are one in many. We are gathered together in a group so that we may shine, shine, shine. Look at how beautiful we look. We love being present here. Do you not love seeing us and playing with us?
Yes, I do love playing with you and seeing you and walking in you and making snow angels and throwing snowballs!
Yes, none of those things could be done if there was just one of us. How sad that would be. And plus, we would be very lonely, nor would we last very long. If there's only one snowflake, it quickly dies. But look at us! Oh, we will be here for weeks, probably for months! Oh, so much more glorious and joyful and life-giving this way.
And then when we die, think of the impact we will have. Such a much bigger impact from all of us together than if it was just one tiny, sad little snowflake. One little snowflake could not do much good on its own. But all of us together, oh, we blanket the earth. We cover the trees. We can give warmth and protection from this cold. And as we melt, we bring life. We will sustain and grow and help spring to come so that all of the leaves can come. Oh yes, it is much better when there are many.
Consider this for your own life, child. Find a way to be many. That is all.
Being gathered brings the spirit
I remember the difference in being one during covid and being gathered as one in many after. During covid, we had church ourselves in our own homes. The first day we were all back together in the church building, the Spirit was so strong it was palpable. It was an entirely different experience.
From the snow’s message, I hear being gathered in one and the beautiful things we can create when we gather in this way. For messages about being one, check out Episodes 25 & Episode 26, where you’ll hear the difference between how the world would tell us to be one and how God tells us to be one. Lastly, if you’re looking for a place to gather, join my Skool community!
