The Wind

I am thinking today about that line from Jesus about the wind and the Spirit. "The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

As I sit in my office in the former rectory of St. Paul's Parish, Foley, AL this is ringing very, very true. As I think about Cassie's 8 month struggle to find a job (which continues to this day) this is ringing very, very true. As I pray for the class of 2008 at VTS as they await GOE redeux and placement information this is ringing very, very true. The wind most certainly blows where it chooses. We hear the sound of it, and from time to time manage to use it to our advantage, but the best we can hope for is for it to take is in relatively the right direction. All we can do is have our sails ready and our ship pointed toward the goal hoping that whatever direction the wind blows today is in congruence with our understanding of God's will.

And even when it isn't we can give thanks that the wind blew at all, and that we were willing and able to be moved, even if it seems as if we are headed backwards.

On a similar yet unrelated topic; this passage also makes me think about the buoys of orthodoxy that the tradition has setup for us. The wind takes us within those buoys, but more often than not really surprises us with how far to one side or the other it might take us. Anyway, the wind has my attention today. May we each be ready for it to push our sails, no matter the direction.