We had some crazy wind in and around the metro Cincinnati area this week. Branches landed in our gutters and yards. Rain came down sideways. Garbage cans ended up in the neighbor’s yard. Thankfully, some of the wide-spread destruction that was predicted didn’t happen.
On the plus side, we were able to enjoy the melodies and rhythms of the new wind chimes at the church all day, every day. A big thank you to the person(s) who dropped off the black Corinthian Bells wind chimes for the rummage sale. I imagine that you intended for them to bring in some cash for youth ministry, but as we hung them up and prepared to slap a price tag on them, the sound transported us to a far away place. After some brief conversation, we decided to claim them as our own.
All week long, the winds of West Chester have helped them sing to us in the key of G. In the building and in the parking lot, you could hear what the wind was doing. For the few moments when there was no wind, the chimes fell silent.
One of the ways the Bible refers to God's spirit includes using words that are interchangeable for breath or wind: in Hebrew rûah, in Greek pneuma. However we translate them into English, we can trust that the wind, breath, and spirit of God is blowing, giving life and motion as it moves through the pages of Scripture and people’s lives.
Next Friday, as part of the Good Friday readings, we’ll hear Jesus say, “It is finished,” before he bowed his head to gave up his spirit (John 19:30). In that moment, all creation was silenced. Thanks be to God that creation didn’t end there. The wind and breath of God would return.
Today, the Spirit and breath of God is active among us. Filled with the Spirit of God, we can speak, sing, pray, and tell the story of God’s amazing love. As we look toward Holy Week, invite a friend or family member who needs to hear about the life-giving breath of God. There is no better time than these holy days to share God’s message of hope and salvation. We will not only confront the silence and deprivation of death, but also the blinding light of the resurrection morning that restores breath to all the dead places of our lives.
O God, breathe into us today!
Pastor Lowell