There’s wind in my hair; stirring, lifting, scattering
The curls I set in order; yet it is only spurring, bracing
Each strand to rise and dance to the rhythm of life, relish
The song of nature. How can I be still as the dance goes on?
How can I be silent and not sing along? Though I try to sit
Cool and calm, the wind ruffles delicate feathers, forbids me
To return to my shell; whacks unwillingness, kicks laxness
And leads me to places I yearn to reach but fear to dare.
Life is a currency to be spent not saved: hoarders are losers
By discarding fear of chaos and losses, daring intimidating
Uncertainties, braving atypical, courageously and continuously
Threading and trading, I’m empowered to garner startling gains
And though it be a mixture of laughter and tears yet only then
Can I say I have truly lived: life is not about order, it is living
Through near misses and messes and successes, having fun
Unsoiled by regrets: O that we may truly live!
Life is serious business that needs balance to be enjoyed. Too much to one side and we are bound to miss something precious. Every one of us wants to live a full, fun and calm life; everything safe and secure. Subsequently, we arrange things the way we think they should nicely flow, in conformity with our plans. Then the winds of life begin to play their tunes that disrupt the rhythm we have already set.
We hiss and grumble, we struggle in a losing battle, attempting to keep things in our preferred pattern. The harder we try, the messier the results. The wind is not under our control and if we don’t learn to balance our moves, it is bound to make nothing of our labor. Instead of the sensible order we are pushing to install, ensuing chaos leaves us confounded. Who has ever mastered the winds of life?
I know of only one Man who spoke and the wind bowed. He is the Creator of all so the forces of life bow to Him. His advice to us is that those who seek to save their lives will lose it and those who dare to lose it are the ones who will enjoy salvation. The wind, like God’s Spirit, stirs our nest, generating discomfort and restlessness that forces us out of our comfort zones to unfamiliar paths. The goal of the upset is not to confuse or knock us to the ground. The aim is to ruffle where we have settled, make us uncomfortable so we have no other choice than to brace up and move. The wind compels us to change, gears us into action, to do something we weren’t doing before its arrival. And fighting it doesn’t mean we can keep things the way they were or live as we have been used to. Fighting the wind of change does no one no good: discernment will profitably guide our attitude and steps in the right direction.
We can’t dictate how life comes and goes but we can choose how to walk the path set before us. We can choose our responses to the winds of life. And our choices will make the difference on how well we live. May we learn that even contrary winds can work for our good depending on how we handle ourselves during the storm. May we trust that God is with us, a proficient Guide, Helper and Protector. May we learn to take advantage of winds; to soar, buoyed by forces that knock down others. And may we take every step knowing that God is leading us to a peaceful and fulfilling end. Amen!
Glory!