Wayne Weekly “A Rushing Wind…A Gentle Breeze”

Springtime invites sudden surges of rushing winds and gentle breezes. It’s almost as if the Creator is waking up His creation for the dawning of a new season with the breath of life.

I’ve seen little spring flowers popping up in a variety of places. I went on line to see what these might be called. Some are known as “Snowdrops”, others, “Cut-leaved Toothworts”, and “Wild Blue Phlox”, among many others. I am far from being a botanist, but am excited to see these little pedals gracing the landscape.

I’ve seen a few Robins and listened to the gentle cooing of Mourning Doves. I’ve spotted a few insects on a warmer day, and observed the buds on trees and bushes. All waking up to a new day.

The rushing wind and gentle spring breezes bring freshness and familiar clean smells with them. I’m reminded of the sound of rushing wind experienced by followers of Christ when the Holy Spirit, appearing like “cloven tongues as of fire”, fell upon those gathered together in one place on the day of Pentecost. The sound of wind was described as “mighty” and even “violent” in some translations.

The result, however, empowered the “church” to become dynamic witnesses of God…establishing the early church. As time progressed, the “violent rushing wind” has often taken the role of being a “gentle” Holy Spirit, residing in believers and enabling believers to “walk in the Spirit” with “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control”. The fruit produced by the Spirit seems more like a gentle breeze, than a “mighty rushing wind”. Yet we know of the power of the Holy Spirit of God, and should act accordingly.

With springtime comes newness of life, and as Christians, we are reminded of our newness of life, brought about by the “Spirit of God”.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.                                                                                                                                                   Romans 6:4