The Golden Cloud (06/03/2025)

I am surrounded by pines, and if you are familiar with pines, you know that this time of year they tend to produce pollen. It is their way of ensuring endurance of the species. And this week, every time the wind stirs, a golden green cloud emerges from the rows of pines and wafts over the neighborhood. The pollen is carried by the wind. And as I watch it stir and spread, I am reminded that in Hebrew the words for wind and Spirit are the same – ruah. And I find myself sitting and considering how the Spirit stirs in our lives to ensure our endurance.

Every surface of my porch, my haven throughout the day beginning early in the morning, is covered with golden green dust. Every time I go out to sit for a spell, I must wash my tabletop and my chair, or I’ll end up wearing the dust. It is inconvenient. It is time consuming. It reminds me so vividly that while I may be responsible for a great deal, I’m not really in control of much. But that’s where faith comes in, isn’t it?

God’s ways are not our ways. We humans, especially today with AI, would find a cleaner and more efficient way to do this promulgation wouldn’t we. But if we step back and consider, we realize that the LORD’s way while not ours are pretty spectacular with amazing results. And while the golden dust I can’t control may irritate me, I must also honestly admit that it amazes me at the same time.

This morning, as I sat and watched the multiple golden clouds form and drift, wafting on the breeze, settling everywhere, I began to remember the multiple times in my own life that I found myself carried by the Spirit to places I would not have chosen for myself and to roles I never would have considered. And yet, in that moment, they were where I was supposed to be and roles I was called to take. I recalled the hymn from Sunday service, one of my favorites, “Here I Am, Lord” by Dan Schutte.  The question in the lyrics is “Whom shall I send?” And this morning, looking back, I remembered so many times that I believe the LORD carried me, sent me, and stayed with me to do that which He was calling me to do.

I’m afraid I lost track of time. I apologize. When I realized the time, I grabbed my cup, gave thanks to the Spirit for a morning of reflection and clarifying visuals. And I bring that to you. Where is the Spirit (the wind) carrying us this day individually? We are instruments of the LORD in the world. What is it the LORD is asking of us? How are we to bring the power of the LORD’s love to others?

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.