I’ve had a lot of experience with wind: sailing, biking,
running, kayaking, cross country skiing, and, camping. For any of these activities, the wind is a
very important factor.
When sailing you obviously need some wind in order to go
anywhere, but if there is too much wind or if the wind isn’t blowing in the
right direction you will have trouble.
In the case of sailing, you need the right balance of wind.
My experience with wind and camping is a pretty traumatic
one that involved a torrential downpour, thunder, lightning, and wind gusts so
strong I was legitimately concerned that our tent was going to blow away with
my friend and me in it while camping on a little island. In the case of camping, a nice light breeze
to keep the mosquitos away is appreciated, strong wind gusts are not!
For the other activities I mentioned, it is best for the
wind to be at your back, blowing in the direction you want to go. When the wind is going the direction you are
going there is much less resistance. A strong
head wind can make a bike ride super frustrating and exhausting as you pedal trying
to inch forward while the wind pushes you backward.
But having the wind at your back on a long bike ride make
for a much more enjoyable ride, and having the wind at your back in life is a
huge blessing.
I think we have all had those times in life when we feel
that we can’t get any momentum going in the direction we want to go. There are setbacks and roadblocks and you
just can’t seem to get a break. Nothing
goes right and you are moving farther and farther from where you want to
be. The wind seems to be blowing right
straight at you and you are helpless to do anything about it.
And then there are those times when things just seem fall
into place.
That has been true of my life lately, I’ve found the wind at
my back. That’s not to say that I’m
comfortably coasting in life, but rather the wind is propelling me. There have been hills to go up, mountains to
scale, and tall barbed wire fences to somehow get on the other side of. Things have not been easy, there have been
challenges to work through, and the going has often been much slower than I
would like, but through anything that might pose an obstacle, I feel a gentle
breeze at my back (and sometimes it’s a wind stronger than a breeze) that
pushes me along in the direction I’m going in life.
This wind at my back opens up opportunities, softens hearts,
and provides solutions to otherwise unsolvable problems.
The best part of feeling the wind at my back is that it
reassures me that I’m going in the right direction. That gentle breeze is my signal that I need
to keep pursuing this path, and this is a sign that I am incredibly grateful
for.
If you too have a tail wind, may you have the continued
strength to harness that wind and keep the momentum going!
If you are facing a head wind today, I pray that you find a
way to change course or receive the courage to do a U-turn.
The Old Irish Blessing (which only seems appropriate)
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at
your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your
fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
