Two of the most awkward things that sometimes happens to me, involve a strong gust of wind.
First, to have a blast of wind knock the cap off your head is . . . well, there is no way to act cool or nonchalant about it. It is tough to recover after that happens. That happened to me the other day in front of a group of kids. They laughed at me, not with me.
Second, it’s tough to bounce back when your umbrella is turned inside-out by a blast of wind. When that happens, you usually look a little foolish, and feel even more so.
Scripture refers to the Holy Spirit in a divine wind kind of way. Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
The book of Acts begins the description of the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost with: “Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing . . .”
As I write these words, I acknowledge that sometimes I sure need a strong gust from God’s Holy Spirit.
The gust of God’s Spirit, perhaps, will make us a little more vulnerable. He might push us away from being prideful and self-absorbed. He might open our eyes to the needs of those around us. He offers comfort. He will certainly bring us closer to Christ.
The hymn writer cried out, “Breathe on me breath of God.” That is my prayer. Maybe it’s your prayer too.