“Tell me the weight of a snowflake,” a sparrow asked a wild dove.

            “Nothing more than nothing,” was the answer.

            “In that case, I must tell you a marvelous story,” the sparrow said.  “I sat on the branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow, not heavily, not in a raging blizzard, no, just like in a dream, without any violence.  Since I didn't have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch.  Their number was exactly 3,741,952.  When the next snowflake dropped onto the branch-nothing more than nothing, as you say-the branch broke off..”

            Having said that, the sparrow flew away.

            The dove thought about the story for awhile and finally said to herself:  “Perhaps there is only one person's voice lacking for peace to come about in the world.” 

            As we approach winter, I thought it might be timely to talk about falling snowflakes instead of green blades rising.  And so I ask this question.  Do we dare to dream today that maybe there is just one more word or action needed to make good and loving creation care a reality?  At this moment what we are doing is more like a bunch of snowflakes falling on the branch-nothing more than nothing-as the dove said.  Still, the branch would not have broken except for the 3,741,952 snowflakes that had fallen on it before the last snowflake broke the branch..

            This month, a new church year begins as we observe Advent, a time of waiting with anticipation.  We remember that the people of Israel had been waiting for their Messiah for many centuries and had not given up hope.  The city of Bethlehem was waiting to receive him.  The angels were waiting to announce his birth to shepherds in the field, of all people.  And, on that first Christmas night over two thousand years ago, it happened.  The Christ child came into our world.  The hopes and dreams of all people were fulfilled.

            The Advent season and its message reminds us to hold onto our hope.  We know that we are snowflakes falling on the branch.  We know that not enough has yet fallen to break the branch.  We wait with anticipation for the day when that last snowflake falls.  We don't know yet what the last snowflake will be.  It might just be an accumulation of all that has come before.  It might be a scientist who finds a new way to sequester carbon in the atmosphere.  It might be that the youth of today will produce the type of leadership and commitment to make it happen.  But hope is what we have.  It is as necessary for life as is breathing.  That is why we do what we do.  We have a creator God who has redeemed all of his creation and continues his creative and redeeming work among us.

            A blessed Advent and Christmas season to all.  May hope continue to abound with you!