Snowflakes Along the Path

I know I’m getting older when I find myself saying, “Back in the day…”

Back in the day, I was never the toughest guy on the block—physically, psychologically, or emotionally. But I wasn’t the weakest either. Most of the men I associated with had pretty thick skin, especially in the military.

You could vehemently disagree with a brother, talk it out, maybe punch it out in the gym, then blow it off at the O Club over a beer or two and get back to the mission.

I don’t remember a single “snowflake” back then.

Maybe they were around, but if they were, they were few and far between.

No, I think the snowflake personality was something that grew later—something the enemy found useful. Satan has always been good at creating division. What better way to weaken men than by watering down masculinity?

Create an environment where men are easily offended. Where the psycho-emotional state is like a .38 with a hair trigger. A little pressure, a little confrontation—and suddenly everything explodes… and melts down.

Back in the day, snowflakes wouldn’t have survived the natural friction that produces sparks—the heat that comes from strength being tested against strength.

As I walk the narrow path today, I see snowflake culture everywhere in the world. That doesn’t surprise me. I saw it clearly toward the end of my professional career.

But it concerns me when I see it among Christian brothers.

Too many have absorbed the culture of offense. “Iron sharpens iron” has lost its edge. Instead of sharpening, we tiptoe around each other.

It reminds me of Jack Nicholson’s line in A Few Good Men:
“You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth.”

Sometimes I wonder if God looks at our culture the same way.

God’s Word is truth.

But our contemporary culture often can’t handle it.

God calls His followers to be on fire for Him. Snowflakes melt when the heat rises. Maybe that’s why so many people prefer the lukewarm.

Brothers, we need to rekindle the Way we once understood.

If the truth of God’s Word offends—and it is truly His Word being spoken—then so be it.

We still have a mission to complete.

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"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)