And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:2-4
When I was very young, I lived in a place where you could see the wind coming for miles as it picked up dust in its path, hurling it into the air only to have it fall and be picked up again. Some days it came in a wall of grit, and other days it twirled, dancing upon itself until a great cone formed. Those days we would all meet up in the storm cellar just to stay out of the way of that great dance. But here, the dance happens over hundreds of miles and the water table is not conducive to a cellar, so we shelter in place, waiting to see if what we consider ours travels into something someone else considers theirs. And we realize such labels, ours and theirs, are really just insurance taken out on our imaginations. There is really so little we can claim.
Being born again always seemed to be represented as an event that would change a person completely, in an instant. I heard stories to that effect, worrying all the while, that somehow, in my love and dedication to God, I missed the most significant thing; the thing that contained all the assurance and even the grace. I thought on it through college, and part of seminary, and finally, one day, I got a small glimpse of the Kingdom that had always been there, so simple, so complete, so perfect. None of it my own doing. None of it contained in words, words are so small. Just a revelation, of unfathomable, unquenchable love.
The wind of awareness will blow in your life. All you have to do is open your eyes to it. Prayer, scripture, worship, service, fasting, they all hone your eyesight, but not if you go with the intent of finding. If you do that, the means will become the ends and you will get bogged down in the doing. No, you practice the spiritual disciplines recognizing that they orient your soul toward an awareness and a discernment of the dust.
The Spirit is kicking up all around you.
Janet Stilwell, Associate Pastor Wildwood UMC
