the wind of the Spirit
by Elouise
The wind blows where it wishes
and you hear the sound of it,
but do not know where it comes from and where it is going;
so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
John 3:8 (New American Standard Bible)
I want to receive and be part of the wind blown by God’s Spirit. Margie, my friend who died recently, was part of that wind. Quietly and without fanfare, she lived a frugal, disciplined life dedicated to one thing only. Helping others become the persons they were created to be. Not by working magic on them, or offering wise advice and counsel. It was much simpler and far more difficult than that.
Margie’s life was about praying. Finding out where the hurts in this world are landing, and praying for persons in pain or trying to find their way home. Praying not just once but daily, using notebooks to record her life of prayer. Following up and asking how things are going. And sometimes asking for prayer for herself.
I still say prayer changes me. I say that because often it’s the only evidence I have that anything is happening. The rest is up to the Spirit of God our Creator who has a Great Heart with unlimited space to enfold all of us together.
I’ve been restless lately about the meaning of my life now that I’m retired. This morning I’m thinking that maybe this season of life is about letting the wind of God blow through and on me, one day at a time. Beautifully and gracefully on some days; brutally bitter and cold on others. The way it did for Margie.
Though I’m not Margie, I want my writing to be a form of prayer for us–all of us. That we’ll be open to change that softens and toughens at the same time. Allowing the Spirit of our Creator to do through each of us what we cannot do on our own. I know it’s possible, because I’ve seen it already in many of you and in myself, as I did in Margie.
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 6 October 2017
Photo found at Pixabay.com
Daily Prompt: Genius
this is so touching Elouise, beautiful and filled with a strong yet soft love underlying the need for prayers for all ❤ ❤ I'll take some, always and give it in return ❤ ❤
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Your writing IS a prayer…for me anyway, Elouise. And yes, I think the older we get – the more vulnerable we feel – we face a choice – to either let the wind of the Spirit blow on and through us, or to fight it…with humility and reverence and gratitude for the gift of each day we are given to spend under the gaze of a Loving Lord who is always, always redeeming – until we ourselves are fully redeemed, in Christ, as Margie is. Love you and D.
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Thank you, Nancy. You say it so well when you describe the choice we have. 💜🙏🏻
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Hope Margie is not disappointed, for her sake.
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Thanks, Brian. She would have enjoyed getting to know you! A very sharp lady with a keen mind if not keen body (many bodily challenges).
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I can empathize with that, had a few myself over the past 12 years or so.
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