May 21, 2015
Rev. Wendy Komori Stager –
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. John 3: 8
I love checking weather apps and websites. The cute little icons and colorful numbers give me a sense of what to expect during a day. Too bad they aren’t always accurate. Today’s meteorological technology is amazing, but it only can approximate the forecast. In addition, specific areas have microclimates depending on the particular lay of the land and many other factors. When we pay attention to the weather, we recognize it is a factor we are not in control of. We can respond, prepare or even shelter from the weather, but we do not determine where the wind is blowing.
The words of “spirit” and “wind” are translated interchangeably in the gospel of John. This rich metaphor still applies in our modern day. We don’t know exactly how the wind/Spirit will blow. We can’t see the wind/Spirit, only the effects that the wind/Spirit has on us. We can feel the wind/Spirit on our skin and know it is there, even when we can’t point to it. This Sunday, we recognize the mystery and power of the wind/Spirit as we celebrate Pentecost.
