The Wind

     Last week we helped the kids in our classroom make kites and then took them out to the playground to make them fly. There had been a series of big storms blowing through, one after another for weeks. The sky was jumping alive so, as always, as soon as we got outdoors the breeze faded to teases and whispers, hardly enough to fly a napkin. So with ten kids and plenty of string to get tangled, we formed a line and faced what was left of the winter wind--and took off running.
     Kids don't really need much. They have faith. It is like "I have this kite in my hand, there WILL be wind!"
     And if the wind fails they make their own...

     In spiritual terms, Easter was alive with wind. We could barely keep our hats! Now we are moving into the quiet days when God seems to have moved away, or at least the wind has died. In fact, it is quiet outside this morning: sounds of traffic far away, moon gone over the horizon, not even the birds are awake yet. We go out to the open places to fly our hearts and... everything is quiet. No wind.
     So we pray. Like children running madly across the lawn we cling to the string of faith and run, knowing that we have what it takes. There will be wind. God will come, attracted by our hope.

    It can't all be pie and cakes. We wait for the return of the Wind.