Where the Wind Blows

We found ourselves sitting in a dark house, after a wind storm knocked out our power this week. We could hear the sheer force of the wind, as we sat in silence. And my mind “went off” to several places, along with that wind.

I thought of the disciples, alone in silence, in a dark room, waiting for the Spirit to come. Then, a mighty wind comes, filling them and taking them to places they had never dreamed of. There was no loss of power—instead, they were filled with Him (Acts 2).

Yes, the wind reminds me of the Spirit. And it reminds me of this poem by AA Milne (author of Winnie the Pooh):

Wind on the Hill

No one can tell me,
Nobody knows,
Where the wind comes from,
Where the wind goes.

It's flying from somewhere
As fast as it can,
I couldn't keep up with it,
Not if I ran.

But if I stopped holding
The string of my kite,
It would blow with the wind
For a day and a night.

And then when I found it,
Wherever it blew,
I should know that the wind
Had been going there too.

So then I could tell them
Where the wind goes...
But where the wind comes from
Nobody knows.

...

That poem speaks to a greater truth. After all, Jesus compared it this way: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

I often long to be like a kite, going where the Spirit leads. But it’s often fear that keeps me back. The world may no longer have a stronghold. Yet I still find myself holding on by a string. I just want to “let go” and soar where He takes me, trusting Him who has power over the wind.

I wonder where the Spirit of the Lord may carry me, as He did the prophet Ezekiel or the evangelist Philip. Perhaps I too would be taken to the ends of the earth, to meet those who have not yet heard the fullness of the Gospel: “And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39)

…

Then again, He already has taken me there. But even there, I wrestled with the freedom of full submission to His leading. I found this entry from my journal in China:

Two weeks ago, we all went to fly kites next to the city wall. Some of the kites went so high in the air, we could no longer see them—only feel them tugging. The next day, while meditating, I had a vision of a kite string attached to my heart. I couldn’t see the kite, just feel the tug of the string. And a still small voice telling me, “Just because you put something out of sight, doesn’t mean it isn’t still there.”

I realized then that He is also teaching me about letting go. Perhaps to make America a great memory—enjoying the fruits of the time there, yet pressing on here, fully embracing what lies ahead. So I have been asking God to help me cut the kite string. Not to try to deny how hard it is to let go, by putting it out of my mind; but to truly move on, by grieving the loss of culture and comfort and accepting my new life here.

Even today, I feel the supernatural tug of a kite string on my heart. Each week new email comes—bearing news of change, the birth of new children, even the loss of friends and family. For me, this is all part of the dying-to-self process. It’s all related to letting go of the kite string, accepting the closed doors—or as Hebrews puts it, looking to a greater country:

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:14-16).

So for now I am blessed to see my life here through spiritual eyes—with all creation teaching me to let go, to accept, to submit to His will. To look forward to the day when Heaven’s Door opens, to a place where the kites never fly away or crash to the ground.

…

I am again moved by this quote from Walter Rauschenbusch, the “Baptist prophet of the Social Gospel,” whose life’s work inspired many:

“The main thing is to have God; to live in him; to have him live in us; to think his thoughts; to love what he loves and hate what he hates; to realize his presence; to feel his holiness and to be holy because he is holy; to feel his goodness in every blessing of our life and even in its tribulations; to be happy and trustful; to join in the purposes of God and be lifted to greatness of vision and faith and hope with him—that is the blessed life.”

My prayer today: Lord, have your way with me. Lift me to greater heights. Fill me with your Spirit, and cut my attachments to this world. Let me join with those who have, like kites in the wind, known the freedom and adventure of Your Will, where nothing can hold us down, not even the grave. Amen…

I See You, Joshua.

“We learned that orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they’re not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.” - David Platt, Radical

I had the privilege of sharing lunch with Bob and Julie Mendonsa this week. Our friendship dates back several years, and it has spanned over three continents. They are now living in Maai Mahiu, Kenya, where they have opened Naomi’s Village (click here for more info). This home is now set to feed and care for 110 orphans.

They shared a video with me about their current progress. In September 2009, I (along with an amazing team) had a chance to walk and pray over the land featured at the 0:33 mark. It is remarkable to see what God has done. See it all here:

At the 1:50 mark, you meet Joshua, who as the caption informs us was orphaned in 2010 (corrected) and is the first child at Naomi’s Village. His story is, as follows: “Joshua’s father came home drunk one night and slaughtered Joshua’s pregnant mother and two brothers with a machete. While Joshua hid under a table to escape the violence, his father hung himself above that table.” These next two videos are actual news reports:

It is hard to imagine such unspeakable evil, unfolding before the eyes of a 3-year old child. Yet it is also a testimony of unfathomable grace, that the Lord would prepare a home for little ones such as Joshua. Joshua’s story made national news. Yet, his story is now being swallowed up in God’s greater story—the good news of the gospel.

Bob told me over lunch: “God uses people to do His will. And when we give ourselves, He makes us into the kind of people He uses.” I was convicted that I needed to act. For myself, I don’t have much money to give. But, there are other things we can do:

1.) Share. I don’t want unspeakable evil to have the “last word.” I want to tell of God’s love and faithfulness. Naomi’s Village is a witness to that. So, I can share this story with others, praying that we won’t harden our hearts or turn a blind eye to it. Suffering is real, and Bob & Julie are offering real hope too.

2.) Pray. If you are reading this, stop to offer up a prayer for Joshua and all the dear children like him. Pray for more laborers to be sent out, to reach out & love them. Open your heart to what God may be speaking to you, about your role in this.

3.) Study. There are many great books out there to help us think through biblically what our role is in helping children like Joshua. Radical by David Platt is a great place to start. I just started A Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns as well.

4.) Give. If you do feel led to help the amazing work at Naomi’s Village, donations or sponsorships can be made online at naomisvillage.com or lostorphans.com, or by mail at Lost Orphans International, PO Box 1388, McKinney TX 75070.

I pray that I will not try to “un-see” what I have seen. May I not be a hearer who forgets, but rather a doer who acts! “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans & widows in their affliction…” (James 1:26)