On the radio this morning in the middle of an interesting NPR news story came a raucous 
series of blats of sound. Then came a distorted voice talking about storm warnings and the force of the wind gusts that were possible. It happened several times more during the news hour.
I have not lived in an area that needed to have these kinds of high wind warnings or tornadoes. I am glad that we have this way of letting people know what kind of weather is ahead; what kind of force we are dealing with. Life can change in an instant when confronted with the almost limitless force of extreme weather.
Suddenly I wondered why it was that we do not have some kind of warning in church or at worship about the limitless power we can access. The experience of the apostles at Pentecost attest to the spirit wind-power unleashed and what it can accomplish. Life is changed when we invite God into the center of our being. Nothing is ever the same again.
We do not recognize the power we have been given as adopted children of God to be channels of that powerful love and compassion. Instead of fearing destructive wind gusts that can tear our house to shreds and injure us we are given the ability to harness the power of love, joy, peace, compassion and healing to calm the storms of life that attack us.
Lent is a time when we may choose to take a few minutes to be aware of God within and all around us. Take a minute to be aware of the power we have at our disposal to change us and lead us to lives rooted in love and compassion. Power to uphold and support us even in the midst of the storm of our life.
Perhaps we should announce it with raucous blats so we could get the attention of people to the power that is and can be ours to channel and to use for good – for God.
Don
