It was a wild and windy weekend…We celebrated the Open and Affirming Convocation last Saturday. Andy Lang from the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns told us about why it is so important that churches welcome the LGBT and same gender loving people. Hands moved the air as we clapped. Kathie Carpenter from the MACUCC Open and Affirming Task Team, told us that there are now 1001 ONA churches in the UCC and winds blew hope around the sanctuary as we cheered.
The Just Peace Players led a workshop on Telling our Sacred Stories. Winds of laughter and tears swept through our room. Some people told about being wounded by words that cut to the quick and others told about cries of joy as they married their partners.
Sacred breezes filled the halls of the Susan P. Dickerman Education Building. I especially enjoyed meeting old friends and letting out a sigh of joy as we embraced.
On Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, and remembered the winds of the Spirit that enlivened the new church over 2000 years ago. Our young people waved faux fire and a dove on steroids floated down the aisle. The Spirit lifted us up.
Then, we rejoiced as the choir sang the hymn Rev. Debbie Clark had created for the 185th anniversary of the church. When we all joined the choir and sang together, a wind of love and hope filled the sanctuary.
I went on a windy, rainy ride to an ordination on Sunday night, and once again the Spirit of love blew through the gathered community. So much wonderful wind…
And then, the tornado struck in Oklahoma. I looked with shock and horror at the collapsed buildings and felt my heart wrench with families as they searched for lost loved ones. I wondered what it would be like to huddle in the bathtub as the house collapsed around me in the wind.
Since then, I’ve been thinking about wind. Where is the Spirit of God blowing? I don’t believe that God was in the tornado, and I do believe that we heard God’s voice calling out with the first responders and the people seeking help. God was blowing love and hope to everyone who was waiting. God was a gentle breath of love and hope everywhere.
It comforted me to think of the breath, the wind of God’s love everywhere. And I will remember winds that are not sacred, the breath that wounds and destroys.