Windy Life

“The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid
bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.”
-Psalm 18:15
 

This past week our squad was given a gift that was a real treat. For three days and two nights we were blessed to use a beach house provided to us free of charge. With it being half way through our time here in Nicaragua, our bodies drained from a week of VBS, and wanting a little more personal “Jesus time” it was the perfect time to get away.
 
Walking up to the house was like hiking on a trail where you can see the sky just over the next hill and you just know that the ocean view is within reach. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks acted like a welcoming party as I walked into the house. Being the first one in the house I did the true gentlemen thing and went to find the best room for myself. I found it and claimed it regardless of who was sleeping with me. I could see the ocean from my window and could feel the salty breeze hit my face as I slept.
 
I began to search the rest of the house like a four year old who was on his first vacation. I walked down the pale orange tiled hall through the dining area up four stairs and found the jewel of this beach house.
 

A view that allowed my shoulders sink into a stage of relaxation that can only be described as “Ahhhhhhhhh………. finally.” The waves, white-caped and then smashed against the rock and explode like a firework. The sand was a dark brown and allowed the plants’ and trees’ leaves to pop and show off their vibrant green leaves. The ocean breeze is where I got lost.

There is something about the ocean breeze that just stopped me dead in my tracks. There was such power behind it. Leaves and trees were blowing in the wind as though they were nothing but a rag doll in a pit bulls mouth. Waves were crashing, being stirred, and gaining strength with each new breeze that passed by. At one point the tin roof covering a porch section of the house would lift up on one side and then slam down sounding like metal trash can lids slamming together. If the blast of God’s nostril lays the foundations of the earth bare I can only imagine I was experiencing the wind made from the blinking of His eye. 
Yet amongst the powerful gust of wind that could almost knock me off balance I was taken by surprise when I wasn’t filled with fear but rather peace. I was able to take each new blast of salt filled air deep into my lungs and let it fill me and sooth me like a sweet melody. It made my spine turn to mush and caused all my muscles to shut down.
 
As I sit here and remember the strength of the breeze that about tore our roof off, the salt it carried that made my hair feel like thick oil and the inconsistency it had I can’t really understand why it brought such peace. I don’t understand why amongst the unpredictable blasts of air there was a sense of stillness. It doesn’t really make sense does it? To feel calm and almost paralyzed in peace at such great power?
 

Then I thought “And I will give you peace that surpasses all understanding.”

“And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your heart and you minds in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 4:7
Oh, now this makes sense. I was amongst the Creator and His creation observing it in a fresh new way. God was allowing me to look at it all from a different view. In my previous blog I mentioned how I had been amazed at the power of God and His name. Now He was allowing me to change my perspective from “My goodness God is all powerful” instead to “My God is peaceful.”

 
We all have an ocean breeze in our life. They come in many different shapes and forms just like breezes change in strength and length. An ocean wind may be a bank account that reads $00.00. An ocean wind may be a family member that has passed away. An ocean wind may be just a bad hair day. Winds vary in size and shape.
 
There are two ways to handle winds when they come. You can be stand in fear of the ruckus that is stirring about because of the wind, wonder where this wind is coming from and ask why this wind is coming, and get angry that you can’t just sit and enjoy a nice book without having any wind bother you. Or…
 
You can breathe deep and realize who sent the wind. You can breathe in a sense of peace knowing exactly who sent the blast of wind. You can rest and allow the gust to past knowing that it was sent for a reason. Maybe it was sent to cool you off or flip your book back a few pages to read something you missed.
 
When you feel a huge gust of wind stirring up your life just breathe it in and allow peace to fill every part of your body. Allow Him to melt your spine and paralyze you with peace. It makes the breeze enjoyable rather then scary.