Windows

Our soul is like a house with many windows.  This is an adaptation of a quote by Robert Louis Stevenson, and reveals to me the options that we have for viewing our world.  When we look out a window that faces a world view of pain and despair; is that our only option? The media today seems to point us in that direction. Could we instead look out of a window that faces hope and opportunity?  Are we so set in our ways or so tired that we can't move our chair to a new view?  So many times we are overwhelmed by our life experiences that we forget to look out another window or that we even have the choice to see things differently.  We focus on the misery of self, and miss the beauty that shines through when we surrender ourselves to the care of others and the loving care of God working through them.

A recent article in the St Paul Pioneer Press http://www.twincities.com/ci_15089161?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1 featured a friend, Todd Fultz, who was injured in a life threatening and life changing automobile accident in the summer of 2008.  His recovery has been long and very painful, yet Todd continues to exude life in each and every small victory that he achieves.  I remember him telling of the very first victory after the accident and coma.  The simple act of drinking a small glass of juice.  He cherished these small victories as he progressed through his ability to walk on his own, playing with his young children again and even making them a hot breakfast each morning.  Some call this fortitude and a will to survive, but more than that Todd is grateful each and everyday for the gifts and blessings he has been given.  He does not dwell on what is missing, but on all that he treasures in life.  His family, his friends and his very life.  He shows us the power that we can receive by the Spirit.  The power to not only survive but to thrive with beauty and grace.


As we approach Pentecost, the time in which our Lord gave us the power of His Holy Spirit, we are given the power to see through a new window. Each Spring, many of us set about cleaning the windows of our homes which have grown dirty over the winter.  It is also a time to clean our souls with a fresh breath of Spirit that was a gift to us from the Father, through the Son.  Don't be overwhelmed by the vision of the past, but find a window that lets in the sun and gives new light to your day!  Our past only describes what was, it does not define what is or what will be.

Throw open that freshly cleaned window and let the Spirit fill your life with amazing power; feel the fresh breath of His Spirit on your face!