What’s in the Wind

When the wind was particularly blustery the other day, my helpful son went out to the porch and brought in our pillows and cushions that occasionally get tossed off into the grass.  It was freezing outside but he insisted on running out the door, sans socks to take care of our things.  He was also distressed that our cat Mars was outside in the elements!  It is a small thing, but it made me wonder if, in the busyness of life, we rarely observe what is going on around us.  How often do we miss the chance to bring someone to safety and provide sanctuary for the proverbial gusts of life?  How often does inconvenience to us prevent us from serving someone else?  I, for one, hate being out in the cold and wind…I would have left the cat (and the pillows) to fend for himself! How often does discomfort hinder my compassion?  If I had heard John declaring Jesus the lamb of God, if I had encountered Jesus, would I have even paused to raise questions about him? Would I have taken the time to ‘come and see’? Do I give a second thought to those living in the elements with nothing to eat? Do I observe those who are silently suffering or writhing in personal pain?  I am reminded that the Hebrew word for wind is also the word for God’s breath and spirit.  I try to remember this whenever I feel annoyed by the wind as it blows.  How is God moving right in front of us and what is God begging us to see, hear, and experience?