Gauges Gone Wild

A few days after blogging about where we put our trust, I got a real-life example. To me, it is fairly reasonable to expect your car to start each morning, especially in the summer. But sometimes things don't go quite as planned.

Thursday morning I got quite a surprise. The car doors unlocked okay. But from then on, it was strange. The gauges went wild when I turned the key or opened the door or did anything that might trigger a communication with the battery. The engine did not turn over even one rotation. The speedometer went from zero to 140 and back within a second. The tachometer and other gauges behaved wildly as well. It was very strange.

The car had been working just fine the day before. So this was quite a surprise. After a bit of Internet research, I read that one person claimed this was "normal" behavior for a dead battery for this car. It would have been nice to have some advanced warning with a slow cranking start or something like that. But no, not this time.

I cleaned the battery posts that were still pretty clean. Some neighbors were kind enough to give the battery a "jump". So then at least I could drive to an auto parts store. I let it charge for several minutes. At the auto parts store I turned it off and tried to restart the engine. The same wild behavior returned. Unfortunately, my battery was kind of pricey as auto makers try to make everything special. Fortunately, I was able to replace the battery myself (unlike simple tasks like replacing headlights that now require a dealer to get to the headlight bulb).

I have now waited a few days to see if the charging system is functional. So far the car still starts. So the battery replacement seems to have been the ticket. But that was an extra $100 I didn't plan to spend this month.

What can I learn? Worldly assumptions are not always trustworthy. Certainly we need to place some trust in everyday life. But a fallen world sometimes fails.

God was gracious enough to not let the battery fail until payday when I had a chance to buy a battery.

I am reminded of the Biblical passages e.g. Matthew 7:15-23 where Jesus talked about various miracles and powerful signs. In some cases, the actions were basically useless without the power of God and relationship with God. If we are disconnected from the power source, we can turn the key or remote or flip any other switch. And the results will have little fruit. Once we are connected to the Power Source, then our actions can truly make a difference. And we have a more accurate gauge of our impact.

Stay connected to the power source. Stay connected to the vine that brings life. A car can fulfill its purpose and destiny once it is rightly connected to a power source. And so can we.

Stunt Kites

I haven't done much kite flying lately. I have only flown kites a few times in the past five years or so. Much of that is because my "good" kite needs repairs. And buying kite parts seems a bit frivolous when other bills need to be paid.

But I brought out my only "working" kite at a family get-together Sunday. It was fun for me. Even though I ripped one kite on the barn roof top, I had a good time. Even though good kites can cost a few dollars, once purchased, they require no gas or electricity. All you need is a fairly steady wind.

It was especially fun to see my nephews have fun with it. When the wind gusts pick up, it can give a person a pretty good workout. And it is just plain fun.

There are probably a few different symbolisms. But I tend to associate the wind with the Holy Spirit. It can be extremely powerful (think tornado or hurricane). But, still, wind is invisible. You may not see the Holy Spirit. But you might be able to see where it has been at work changing lives and circumstances.

One of the key things about kite flying is being aware of where the wind is blowing. First of all, is the wind blowing today? If so, what direction? And how steadily is it blowing? Once the kite is up in the air, the key is to work with the wind.

Most of us Christians have lots to learn in listening and discernment. But the most effective ministry is when the wind is blowing, when the Holy Spirit is moving. When the Spirit is moving, there are all kinds of possibilities. And power is available for internal and external miracles.

When I talk about internal miracles, I don't just mean physical healing. Although that certainly happens. And I have felt it go through me to others.

Sometimes, changing circumstances is the easy part. Even demons (fallen angels) can do some of that. Angels are powerful. But the bigger miracles are often the changed hearts. Being able to forgive or let go of bitterness, disappointment, resentment, etc. or simply have hope are often much bigger "miracles" in the grand scheme of things. The invisible force of the Holy Spirit, like the wind, can be very powerful.

Can you identify where the Spirit is moving in your community? Will you join in? If God is patiently working on internal miracles in your life, are you open to that?

When the wind of the Holy Spirit blows, will we fight it? Or will we join in and work with it?