冰之美，與「一而三」的奧祕 ...

水，是一個極美的三一真理隱喻——我相信，這是上帝在創造時刻意留下的記號，好讓人類學習分辨聖父、聖子與聖靈。水是一個本質，卻以三種形態呈現：液態、冰態與氣態。三種狀態，同一實質；正如三一——父、子、聖靈，同一位聖潔的上帝。

今天，我想談的是冰——更具體地說，是今天我親愛的家人（謝謝 Dorcas）傳給我的幾張凍雨照片。請大家花點時間看看這些影像。

這些照片不只呈現大自然的美，也讓我看見冰如何為自然「作畫」——覆蓋枝椏與常青樹，如水晶般反射光線，使平凡變得耀眼。然而，冰本身也是一個矛盾：賞心悅目，卻在腳下與路面成為危險。

就在這冰封的世界中，一隻鮮紅的雄性紅雀出現了——在凍雨中為了種子與溫暖而奮力覓食。那一刻，美不再只是景象，而是生命本身。

這些畫面促使我把默想轉化為詩。我與 ChatGPT 合作，寫下了下面這首詩，與我的 Facebook 朋友分享。當你觀看照片時，請細讀詩句；也讓詩句，引領你再次回到這些影像之中，細細反思。

願你享受其中。

冰、光，與跳動的生命

凍雨悄然而至，

不是雪的溫柔邀請，

而是玻璃般的降臨——

覆蓋枝椏與針葉，

把大自然封存在水晶之中。

夜色裡，樹木靜立，

每一根枝條都被冰封，

承接街燈與窗光，

閃耀——

為眼睛預備的美，

卻為腳步與車輪設下考驗。

上方的光輝，

成了地上的危險；

吸引目光的璀璨，

考驗著人的身體。

然而，生命沒有退場。

在結冰的針葉林間，

LED 燈光與冰晶彼此競逐——

人造的秩序，

與天然的光華；

相互映照，相互折射，

各自佔據一刻驚嘆。

接著，是紅雀。

在冬日的玻璃世界中，

如一簇活著的火焰。

凍雨落下，他毫不退縮。

他不思索危險的隱喻，

也不吟誦對比的詩句——

他只懂得飢餓與熱能的真理。

種子成為能量，

能量化為溫暖，

溫暖延續生命。

人類停下來計算，

受造界卻適應、前行。

美，不只是被觀看——

而是被活出來，

被餵養，

被承擔。

在凍雨之中，

冰教會我們一個安靜的悖論：

威脅之中，仍能顯出榮耀；

而生命，

若被正確地創造，

總能找到歌唱的方式——

即使在冰封的大地上。

#冰雨之美 #自然與生命 #超越所見 #受造界的韌性

Ice, Beauty, and the Mystery of One in Three ...

Water is a beautiful analogy of the Trinity—created, I believe, with a built-in invitation for us to discern the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One substance, yet revealed in three distinct states: liquid, ice, and steam. Three expressions, one reality—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: one holy God.

Today, I’m reflecting on ice—specifically, the freezing-rain images my dear in-laws (thank you, Dorcas) sent me today. Please take a moment to look at them.

These photos reveal more than winter beauty. They show how ice can “paint” creation—coating branches and evergreens like crystal, making light shimmer, and turning the familiar into something radiant. Yet ice is also a paradox: stunning to behold, but hazardous underfoot.

And then, in the midst of it all, a bright red male cardinal appears—braving the freezing rain for seeds and warmth. In that moment, beauty becomes more than a scene; it becomes life.

These images moved me to turn reflection into poetry. I wrote the poem below in collaboration with ChatGPT for my Facebook friends. As you view the photos, ponder the words—then let the words lead you back into the photos.

Enjoy.

Ice, Light, and a Beating Heart ...

Freezing rain came quietly,

not as snow’s soft invitation,

but as glass—

coating branch and needle,

turning Mother Nature into crystal sculpture.

By night, the trees stood still,

every limb sealed in ice,

catching streetlight and window glow,

glittering—

a beauty offered freely to the eye,

yet betraying the feet and wheels below.

What shines above

becomes danger beneath.

What dazzles the gaze

tests the body.

And still, life does not retreat.

Among the frozen conifers,

LED lights compete with ice,

human order with natural brilliance—

each reflecting, each refracting,

each claiming a moment of wonder.

Then comes the cardinal.

Red as living flame against winter’s glass,

unbowed by falling pellets of cold.

He knows no poetry of hazard or irony—

only the truth of hunger and heat.

Seeds become energy.

Energy becomes warmth.

Warmth becomes survival.

Where humans pause and calculate,

creation adapts and continues.

Beauty is not merely seen—

it is lived,

fed,

endured.

In the freezing rain,

ice teaches us this quiet paradox:

what threatens can still reveal glory,

and life, when rightly made,

finds its way to sing—

even on frozen ground.

#IceStormBeauty #NatureAndLife #SeeingBeyondSurface #CreationEndures