G is for Guarantee

There is one crucial difference between the wind used by a sailboat and the Holying Wind, and here is where my analogy falls apart. But I'm so glad it does. On a sailboat, one doesn't know the "intent" of the wind, one can never trust it completely, one has to be constantly on guard lest the wind drown you. Hence sailing can be risky business with no guarantee that you are going to survive the trip. On many stormy sails I recall thinking that if only I had the assurance that we were going to survive I would really enjoy the wild ride as an awesome experience. Had I known the outcome, they could have been exhilarating instead of terrifying. But with no such guarantee, far from enjoying the rides, I was gripped by fear and anxiety and wished desperately that I was off the boat.

Our Holy Wind is different. Christ trusters have a promise that our Wind is always working on our behalf, always behind us and will get us safely through hell and high water. Just think of what that means. It means that no matter how rough the ocean of our lives, no matter how much we get tossed around, no matter how uncontrollably fast we are driven before the wind or, the opposite, how invisibly little progress we seem to make, we do not have to be fearful and anxious but instead can enjoy the ride -- with zest, enthusiasm, and confidence. That is called our Christian Freedom (born of faith). And it is possible because we can throw all our cares to the Wind. "Here Wind, take this cancer, take this broken relationship, take this addiction, take this grief" -- trusting that the Wind will not merely remove it but, better, use it all for our holy-ing. We have that promise. A certain sign that the holying Wind is filling our sails is our jubilant confidence. Like Paul we are not overcome but instead victoriously boast: "I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). How invigorating!

So Come, Holy Wind, Come.

con-Spir-ators cathy lessmann and tbcm

Crossings Cyber Crew Tom Law, Ed Schroeder, Robin Morgan	Board member, Sabbatheology writer, and new Web Editor Lori Cornell leading the worship at the June 24th Practicum