March 15, 2024
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.” ~ John 3:8 NRSV
I celebrated my birthday with our family over the weekend, including a great meal, and of course cake (cupcakes, in this case). I selected the Red Velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting, a favorite since I was in middle school. Instead of one candle or 71 in my case, a sparkler was lit on the cupcake. Is there a way to blow out a sparkler? My husband reminded me that you can’t blow out sparklers, but I gave it my best try anyhow. I ran out of breath before the sparkler ran out of sparks, so I had to wait for it to finish burning so I could not only have my cupcake, but eat it too.
I’ve been thinking about wind and breath since then, in part because of high wind advisories, and because I was preparing a Christian Education class and sermon on John 3:14-21. The oddest thing happened right at the end of my that sermon Sunday morning. With about 5 words left to say, a huge gust of wind rattled the roof and shook the windows. It was as close to the sound of a minor earthquake that I’ve encountered since leaving Hawaii. It could have blown out thousands of sparklers! The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear it, but you do not know where it come from or where it goes. The Spirit sweeps through our lives in the least expected times and places.
May we recognize that wind, and let it carry us where God wills. ~ Anne
Wayfinding 