But I’m going to risk it anyway. Today, March
23, it is 77 degrees with the wind out of the southsouthwest
at 44 miles per hour. Because of the wind, I won’t be riding
my bike outside today. On the other hand, if only I had someone to drive
north, I could make it to the Nebraska border in record time. By the
time you read this, the March winds will have passed, and we could have
snow or rain or sunshine.
One time Jesus talked a little about the weather. A Pharisee by the
name of Nicodemus came to Jesus at night probably because he didn’t
want to be seen talking to Jesus. Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it
pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or
where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).
Let’s explore what He is saying to us. “The wind blows
wherever it pleases.” Now that’s the truth. Usually on warm summer
days the wind is out of the south, and in the winter it’s more common for
the wind to be out of the north. I have been surprised at how often the
wind comes from the east in Pratt. When riding my bicycle, I always ride
against the wind first because when you get tired it is much easier to ride
with the wind. There have been times when I thought riding a bicycle
was entirely too easy, only to turn around and find it was the wind that
was pushing me. It wasn’t easy any longer!
This passage reminds me that Jesus had a sense of humor. The word
for wind and spirit is the very same in the Greek: pneuma. So Jesus is
making a slight play on words with this statement. We don’t know where
the wind is coming from or where it is going. Jesus reminds it is the same
with those born of the Spirit. We do not control the work of the Holy
Spirit. He works in ways we cannot predict or understand.
I am so thankful that the Spirit continues to work in our lives and in
the life of this church. We celebrate the evidence all around us that the
Holy Spirit is working among us. We don’t have to understand the
workings of the Holy Spirit, but we are thankful
He’s here! Please join us as the Spirit continues to
work among us during the special activities of Holy Week and Easter!
In His Spirit, Pastor Dan