Thorns with Drops of Blood Red Berries on Pure White Snow

Walking through the silent peace of the deep forest woods I came upon these blood red berries hanging on leafless thorny branches. It was a simply beautiful scene with a wonderfully true story. It is the same story connected to the Holly plant frequently seen at Christmas time. What is the connection between Christmas and Holly? Well, when can you see Holly growing? Most everyone knows that Holly grows during a time when most other plants have died. It is a symbol of life that does not end but goes on living when all else dies. It has sharp thorny leaves connecting an object that can cause anyone to bleed if it pokes their skin and it also has red berried like blood.   So it is an equation that reads something like this: thorns + blood = eternal life = Christ (mas [shortened form for meeting]). It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out; its an equation that was never meant to be complicated but as simple as possible for the world of eternal life would not be very pleasant if you needed a degree or membership in Mensa to join.    So yesterday as I walk through a virtually pure white environment, these bright red berries here in Fairbanks Alaska caught my eye. I couldn’t help but see these berries that looked like big red drops of blood all set against a back drop of pure white snow which covered all the dirt.   It is a simple picture taken from a world made by Perfect Love, a Love so wonderful that it saved me from death and darkness to now look into His perfect Light to see a world of beauty that words cannot describe.