Christian Living

THE BEWILDERED SNOWMAN

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
12/14/22
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PROLOGUE

Human nature often can be a very strange bedfellow. What makes one do what they do, talk the way they talk, walk the way they walk? In other words, act the way they act?

According to Dr. Charles Ryrie, ”Man was created in the natural and moral likeness of God. (Genesis 1:26-27) When he sinned, he lost his moral likeness, which was his sinlessness, but the natural likeness of intellect, emotions, he still retains." (Genesis 9:6) (James 3:9) Here we have our answer to the above questions, straight from the Scripture. We may be all grown up in stature, but we often return to our childish expressions. The Christmas season being no exception for some. 

One activity I always wanted to get involved with was building a Christmas snowman. You know the type: the old traditional one with the corncob pipe, button nose, old silk hat, and the eyes made from coal, with a broom stick in his hand. Yes, you are right, I would call him Frosty. 

Living in the deep South, I have not had much opportunity to do so. It would be fun, however, dressing up that cold snow-white gentleman and giving him the unique character he needs.

I guess this continual brain thought led me again to my mysterious dream world. Or perhaps it was from watching the many seasonal television feel-good dramas. I came to one conclusive decision.

It was all about the glistening seasonal snow and related snowman, and Santa of course, which set the tone of the season. And then there was the last five-minute makeup kiss, between the right girl and wrong boy.

This all made me want to go out and make a happy smiling snowman and hang the mistletoe over my wife’s head.

Here we have our typical winter Christmas Snowman, by his unusual less than happy frowning face, has become somewhat bewildered with his life. With his traditional Christmas mission of spreading the spirit of Christmas cheer among the young ones.  In the end, however, he mysteriously comes alive enjoying the season.

My fictional seasonal blog is entitled “The Bewildered Snowman.”

Being worn out from another exhausting week at the Bible College, I could not wait to jump into bed. I turned out the light and crawled in bed under the warm covers,  and that is when it happened. Was it a dream, or maybe a vision of sorts?

I could not explain it, how unlikely it was for a renowned Bible teacher as myself, who doubted everything except what I could see with my own eyes. So, let's began there, my seeing with my own eyes.

I found myself walking down the street. It was the time of the year to be jolly. The Christmas seasonal mood was everywhere.

The town was surely decorated for the season. The houses took on an atmosphere of twinkling and multicolored flashing lights, bouncing off the snow-laden yards. Within the windows, inside trees were glimmering.  

The city streets were trimmed with an abundance of reds and golds flashing here and there. Classic poinsettias and candy canes graced the store fronts. Shiny bows and wrapped gifts glistened under the trees. Bells and joyful music of the season seemed to bounce off the sidewalks, as the stores tempted passersby with shiny new seasonal advertised gifts.

All in all, the festivity of the season rang a happy tone within this small town. The brilliance of the decorations was bound to lift anyone’s mood, 

Finding an isolated park bench, I decided to sit awhile and enjoy the atmosphere. It was not long before it happened. Just how and why was beyond my thinking.

A figure came walking, or should I say gliding up. I could not believe my eyes. He was a snowman. All decked out in the usual snowman attire with the corn cob pipe, the button nose, the old silk hat, and the eyes made from coal, with a broom stick in his hand The one feature drawing my attention, he was not smiling. His lips were turned downward, giving him the most pitiful bewildered facial expression.

Making eye contact, we both stared for what seemed like an eternity. I was the first to speak. I had to ask, “Why so sad, Mr. Snowman? Why the turned-down lips, and gloom and doom? It is the season to be jolly, why the obvious frown?”

“You should know, my good man," he said. "You made me this way. The wife wanted a smile, but you were so mad from the kids not letting you help put me together, that you made my lips frown.”

He went on, “I have been searching for you forever. My only hope was that I would not melt this way. I surely do not want to wind up yonder in the skies this way. Now that I have finally found you, will you please make me smile? After all, it is the season to be joyful, you know.”

I reached out for him, but he was gone. He disappeared as quickly as he had arrived, from nowhere. But he had a big smile and sang as he took his flight. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

So goes the mystery of the little seasonal city. All had disappeared without a trace.

No, I was not left there out in the cold. I was back home, snug in bed under the covers, My wife was lying by my side, apparently deep in winter dreams.  Suddenly, we were awakened by a knock on the bedroom door.

“Dad, Mom, get up, get dressed," our daughter cried. "It has been snowing all night long. If we hurry, we can make a snowman!”

 “What’s that grin on your face, my love?” my wife asked.

“Nothing, Dear Wife, just go back to bed, for a short snooze. It's Christmas!

EPILOGUE

I seem to recall once our family making a trip from our Florida home, up to my aunt and uncle’s home in the West Virginia mountains. It was an adventure I’ll never forget. On the way up, we drove through a snowstorm, and were stranded overnight in a small-town hotel.

When we arrived at their home the weather was nice but rather cold. Overnight it had snowed again, and we awoke to snow all over the ground. It had been snowing all night. Apparently, this type of occurrence often happens up in the mountains. To the dismay of Mom and Dad, I had a ball helping the neighborhood kids build a snowman. I think I may still have some pictures.  

So, is winter your favorite season? Whether you enjoy making a snowman outside your house or sledding down a hill, winter is here. Along with it comes my favorite time; Christmas. I have so many childhood memories, it is virtually impossible to choose any favorite.

One memory: Since Christmas closely followed Halloween, and we small children had worn the popular plastic Halloween masks to go trick-or-treating, during my trip to see Santa, I climbed up on his knee, and looking him straight in the face, I yelled out to Mom, “Look Mom, Santa has a false face on!" To Mom’s dismay, and the cries of the many children standing around, I was quickly jerked up and hauled off the scene.

So, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

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