The last weeks of the year 2008 have been rather challenging on Canada's west coast. I am talking about the weather! Usually when you visit the Westshore Terminal in Delta you notice that everything is black; the stockpiles of coal, the pick-up trucks, the road, everything is black and dirty! And then, one morning all the blackness was covered with snow, beautiful white snow, all of Canada was covered with snow - from coast to coast! It made me think, about the Advent story of the angel appearing to Joseph and telling him that he has to give the baby the name of Jesus, because 'he will save his people from their sins.' It reminded me of that beautiful Old Testament passage Psalm 51:7 where David says, ' wash me, and I will be whiter than snow ' and where God promises in Isaiah, ' Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.'
At the time of this writing everything at Westshore Terminals is black again! But somehow that old song keeps coming back in my mind, " The blessing by faith I receive from above; Oh, glory! My soul is made perfect in love: My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know, The blood is applied. I am whiter than snow. Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow, Now wash me and I shall whiter than snow." (James L. Nicholson. 1872)
