Today in Kansas we are being buffetted by 30-mile-per-hour
winds. Although these gusts cannot penetrate the thick walls of the monastery, we
cannot escape the constant low, rushing sound they generate. Through our many
large windows, we observe with alarm the ferocity with which tree branches are
being tossed about. High winds generate a sense of unease for many of us. Isn’t
it interesting, then, that the Holy Spirit is often linked with wind?
Although we pray for the inspiration and gifts of the Holy
Spirit, I wonder if we are ready to accept the wildness and unpredictability that
accompany them. When we pray to the Spirit, we often unconsciously have ideas
in mind about what gifts we want and how inspiration should appear. However,
God who is manifest in the Spirit cannot be controlled or contained. We are
called to let go of our own concepts and desires and go along for the ride,
which will take us to unexpected places.
At times in our lives, we need the brisk wind of the Spirit
to sweep away the fustiness or mustiness that can settle into the corners of
our soul. Can we let ourselves be cleaned out, trusting that despite its
unpredictability, the winds of the Spirit unfailingly will lead us to new life?
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