In Awe of Snowflakes

The moment one gives close attention to any thing… it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself. (Henry Miller)

As I write, where I live in Minnesota, we are having our first significant snow fall of the year.

Of course, it is aggravating and scary to drive on snow and ice, and my heart breaks for those who don’t have good shelter or sufficient warmth to be comfortable in such winter weather.

At the same time, though, as I look out my living room window, I am amazed at how the snow changes the landscape into a wonderland that reminds me of a Christmas snowglobe.

And, this is just if I look at the landscape.

John O’Donohue has written that hidden beneath our initial perceptions, “another world waits.” This reminds me of something my mom told me about snow. I don’t know if this really is true, but she told me that every single snowflake is unique.

In light of this, I am so amazed by the stunning photography that PBS shared in the following link that reveals the usually hidden details of snowflakes. As Miller said, it indeed does seem true that close attention to any thing can reveal mystery and awe.

Snowflake Photography

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