I was inside all day painting and patching up the holes in my garage (finding studs can be a tricky business and the sometimes the only way to do so is to make a bunch of holes). I also finally got to an organisation project for the church which I had been meaning to do for awhile. It was a good day to stay inside as a thunderstorm and intermittent rain lashed against my windows for much of it. I finally went for a walk after 10 pm to get the mail and WOW found the wind wicked and cold!
I don't complain much about weather - what's the point, really? But if anything gets to me, it is severe wind. I guess I have too many memories of riding my bicycle home against a strong prairie wind which often rendered any attempt at pedaling against the stubborn invisible force slower than just getting off and walking my bike.
There is nothing as frustrating as being prevented from getting where you are going by some force that you can do nothing about, especially since you cannot see it, nor grab hold of it and yank it out of the way, nor even fence it in or relegate it to a corner so that its effect on you is circumvented. It comes and goes as it pleases. Jesus said the same thing about the spirit. God's invisible forceful influence comes and goes as he pleases and we cannot command him nor predict him nor set up borders for him to stay within.
When one of my friends was praying for me last summer, he saw me as a sail. I was limp and still, but the minute the wind came, I was full of life and off I went! I found it a very encouraging picture because I was utterly drained at the time and felt very lifeless and unable to move an inch on my own steam. Yes, let me remember to rely on the wind - the spirit - instead of my own power - so much less effort. Perhaps the problem was never the strength of the wind, but the direction I was heading.
This is a picture of the windmill at Point Claire in Quebec on a beautiful spring day in 2006.
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