Hang on Tight - The Spirit's a-Comin'!

Wind is a pretty cool thing. It's just air moving from an area of high pressure to one of low pressure, but there's so much that that means for us.

We can watch the destruction that wind can wreak on towns after a storm, where houses, stores and churches may remain here and there without a roof or even an entire side - if they are left standing at all. We can harness this for a natural source of energy as well. There's great power in the wind.

Remember "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day"? Ever flown a kite? You might hold the string, but it's up to the wind to toss it around. The wind animates things.

Here in Maryland, we see sailboats on the bay on particularly beautiful days. The sails, full of the afternoon breeze, swell and drive the boats here and there. The wind drives us.

At Pentecost, we remember that day when the wind howled through the Upper Room and brought the tongues of fire upon the Apostles, forging and sealing the new Church. The Spirit is our Wind - the ruach of God - His life-giving breath. Like the wind, there is great power in the Spirit - to strengthen the Christian and build unity in the Church; the Spirit animates us to do the work Christ sets before us, bringing us joy in our faith and setting us alight with that divine fire; and the Spirit drives us to give witness to the faith we share - so much so that if we don't proclaim it, "the very stones will shout."

A blessed and joyful Pentecost to all!