-
Following God Ordained Passions, Like Wilson ...
Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010 (message contributor)
Following God Ordained Passions, like Wilson Bentley the Snowflake Photographer
I want to die the same way Wilson Bentley died.
Wilson grew up on a farm in Jericho, Vermont, and as a young boy he developed a fascination with snowflakes. Obsession might be a better word for it. Most people go indoors during snowstorms. Not Wilson. He would run outside when the flakes started falling, catch them on black velvet, look at them under a microscope, and take photographs of them before they melted. His first photomicrograph of a snowflake was taken on January 15, 1885.
Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind.
The first known photographer of snowflakes, Wilson pursued his passion for more than fifty years. He amassed a collection of 5,381 photographs that was published in his magnum opus, titled Snow Crystals. And then he died a fitting death—a death that symbolized and epitomized his life. Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley contracted pneumonia while walking six miles through a severe snowstorm and died on December 23, 1931.
And that is how I figured out how I want to die. No, I don’t want to die from pneumonia. But I do want to die doing what I love. I am determined to pursue God-ordained passions until the day I die. Life is too precious to settle for anything less.
Mark Batterson, Wild Goose Chase (Multnomah, 2008), pp. 15-16
From a sermon by Terry Blankenship, Singing a Song of Wonder, 1/21/2010
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Elizabeth Elliot Tells In Her Book "Passion And ... PRO
Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 9, 2004
Elizabeth Elliot tells in her book “Passion and Purity,” how on her first date with Jim Elliot (one of the five martyred missionaries in Ecuador), they went to a missionary meeting at Moody Church in Chicago, late in April. The speaker was one of the daughters of the famous missionary to Africa ...read more
-
The Picture Series Are Frozen Both In Time And In ... PRO
Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Jan 12, 2005
The picture series are frozen both in time and in memory. The scene unfolds from the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Two runners, one American, the other from South Africa, although of British descent. The starter’s pistol fires and around the track the runners race for the finishing line. ...read more
Related Sermons
-
A Whole Heart
Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Jul 2, 2018
Who wants God to love them and act towards them halfheartedly, as an after thought. No we want Gods full attention and commitment to our well being. Well God wants doesn't want to be an after thought in our lives either.
-
Getting Your Fight Back
Contributed by John Gaston on May 18, 2015
Hebrews 12:3 warns "lest you be weary and faint in your minds." This is a possibility for all, even great saints. Let's look at how Elijah became discouraged and the 5 ways God restored his fight.
-
Stop Enduring Life And Start Enjoying It Series
Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 30, 2014
In life trouble is inevitable, but misery is optional. Think about that. You have a choice about whether you are going to be miserable about the problems in your life, and the way you deal with it determines whether you are miserable or not.
-
The Reality Of Christian Persecution (Part 2) Series
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Apr 24, 2010
A sermon examining the persecution that Christians have endured throughout history.