Why Is Snow White?

Good morning…

Growing up in the north, we experienced months and months of snowfall. When there are fireworks of various colors on every autumn hillside, so many different shades of green in each still forest, and a huge array of colors displayed in birds, flowers, and insects, why does falling snow everywhere across the globe look white as it blankets the ground? My curious mind wonders, so I google this question, “Why is snow white?”

First, I learn that snow is a complex conglomeration of ice crystals stuck together. Next, I learn that the color of anything, including snow, depends on how light interacts with it. Finally, I learn that the “color” of all the light wavelengths combined equally is white; when light goes into a bundle of ice crystals, snow reflects earth’s various colors equally, treating our naked eye to pure white light.

Now, my mind likens snow to us, people.

Humankind is a complex conglomeration of flawed individuals stuck together. The color we shine into the world depends on how the light of our LORD interacts with us. With our human nature, we color coat our sins. Cheating on a test is bad, but cheating on a spouse is worse. Gossiping about a person is bad, but murdering that person is worse. Driving over the speed limit is bad, but driving drunk is worse. We point out the mistakes of our selves, our enemies, and our loved ones, like we point out the various colors donning the changing leaves in fall. Interacting with God in prayer, the light of our LORD combines the unique colors of our various sins, equaling out our myriad flaws to reflect divine white light into the world. Rising from our prayer time, to God’s naked eye, we look like a blanket of new fallen, white snow.

But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me–now let me rejoice, Psalm 51:6-8 (NLT),

Sue