'The wind blows where it wills' (There was a time in my life...)

A VIEW FROM THE BACK PEW

By Rev. Canon Christopher B. J. Pratt

There was a time in my life which was highlighted by the annual invitation from my uncle to go sailboat racing with him. It was a time when all the other elements of life were set aside and it was simply the two of us facing the challenge of the racecourse in competition with others.

Those days on the water were times when we were dependent on the elements of Nature. Tides, waves and most importantly, the wind, governed our actions.

On one occasion, we were racing in Chesapeake Bay, it was a day where it seemed like the wind was everywhere else, but where our racing competition was taking place. We drifted out to the starting line and the race began. As the tide helped us along the course, we noticed a tall, black pillar cloud beginning to form on the horizon. As it grew larger and appeared to be heading in our direction, we heard the signal that the race was cancelled and we should head back to our mooring. We were in the calm before the storm.

As we turned to head for safety, like the storm scene from the movie “Forest Gump”, the wind decided to show up. Our sail back to port was exhilarating. As the wind began to blow harder and harder, we sailed faster and faster. The wind was powerful. We saw some boats capsize. It was a moment which is indelibly etched into my life and memory.

Times and places where the impact of the movement of the wind is possible to witness, are not limited to being on, or at the water’s edge. Wind can prove to be a very destructive force, blowing down buildings and creating chaos in its wake.

A gentle zephyr of a breeze may generate a sense of personal peace and calm. A welcome breeze may cool off a warm day and provide some relief from the heat of the season.

Watching the impact of the wind on the water or seeing trees bending over as they are buffeted by a strong wind generates its own memories in our lives as particular moments and locations where we witness the impact of the wind on the world around us are times we remember.

The wind blows where it wills; you hear the sound of it,vbut you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So with everyone who is born from spirit. (St John 3: 8)

As we remember the words of our Lord to Nicodemus who came to Jesus, at night, avoiding the crowds and the curious, I imagine their conversation taking place outside, perhaps on the Mount of Olives. In the dark, with the wind whistling through the olive trees, overlooking Jerusalem, the reflection Jesus offers has a profound impact, not only on Nicodemus, but on our lives, as well.

From the creative wind of God moving across the face of the Earth in the Book of Genesis to the storm-tossed fishing boat filled with scared disciples on the Sea of Galilee, wind plays a part in our own faith story. At Pentecost, it is the sound of a powerful wind which fills the house where the Disciples are gathered. It is a Spirit–filled wind which empowers the followers of Jesus for their lives of ministry and witness.

When my uncle felt he could trust me with the tiller of the sailboat, I became keenly aware that it was not always possible to go exactly in the direction that I wanted to go. The direction of the wind governed the best route. The sails had to be set, and the boat had to be steered in a way in which we could move forward. There was always a balance between what was desired and what was possible. An eye on the direction of the wind and a constant readiness to alter the trim of the sails to meet changing circumstances was an essential part of the responsibility of handling the boat.

Empowered the Holy Spirit, trying our best to serve our Lord in our lives, often means that what we desire and what is possible are not always the same thing. We are constantly trying to navigate to a point where we feel the wind of the Spirit moving us forward. There may be moments when we go off course, but our ability to re–orient ourselves, so that we can make the adjustments necessary and continue to move forward is part of the experience of life and ministry. 

The words of a hymn capture these sentiments well:

I feel the winds of God today;
 today my sail I lift,
though heavy oft with drenching spray
and torn with many a rift;
if hope but light the water’s crest,
and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at his behest
and brave another cruise.
(Hymn 282 - Red Book)

May that be true in your life… and mine.

Rev. Canon Christopher B. J. Pratt has retired from full-time parish ministry but continues to offer priestly ministry in the Diocese.
chrispratt@diohuron.org