Snowstorm 17 February 2021

Snowstorms are a common occurrence in the region of Johann Ludwig Schneller School. Some come with destructive winds and plenty of dramatic surround-sound. Others come with calm and deep silence. One has to be an expert to know which type of snow each brings. Whatever the type of snow, storms shrink man to his/her insignificant size in the realm of the wonderful creation of almighty God.
The words of psalm 29 that seem strange under normal circumstances become truly representative of nature in our region the morning after a snowstorm. This one came with calm and deep silence until the very heavy snow it brought started piling on the branches of the trees. The sound of snapping branches and falling trees broke the silence bringing the words of psalm 29 to true life.

Psalm 29
A psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,  
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;  
   worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;  
   the God of glory thunders,  
   the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;  
   the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;  
   the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,  
   Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes  
   with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;  
   the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks  
   and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;  
   the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;  
   the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide

We praise God that the falling trees did not cause any damage in JLSS. Those same trees provide us with many saplings that grow naturally around them. We have prepared around fifty this year to be planted in various places in our campus. They will replace the fallen ones. They will also bring beauty to other areas that have very few trees.
We have some work to do. The wood of the fallen trees will be put to good use. More trees will be planted to replace the lost ones.
Snowstorms, like other elements of God's wonderful creation humble us, yet at the same time remind us of our duty to protect this wonderful creation. Only when we do our best not to endanger the creation, and live in harmony with nature around us, can we understand the beauty and significance of the words of psalm 29, and truly praise our loving Lord through reading them.