walk this way, extreme discipleship
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Wind Blown But Still On Course By
R. Cody Smith
"The
wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell
where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of
the Spirit." A
sailorman sets his sails according to the direction of the wind and the
course he hopes to travel. When the wind changes, adjustments must then
be made accordingly. Light air requires a lot of attention to details
which can make the difference between moving along, and being stuck in
the doldrums forever. In contrast, heavy winds are high adventure, and
can give you the ride of your life. Can
you see the parallel? When you sail for the love of it--when you follow
God for the adventure--it matters not from where the wind blows, nor
where it may take you. Powerboats, on the other hand, while nice, are
more about the business of getting from here to there, while the sailor--like
the disciple--lives for the voyage itself. Once
I was faced with making an important decision. I felt like I was being
called to go to Mexico as a missionary, but really needed to know if it
was God's will for my life. I was pondering this question one afternoon
as I lay on my bed in a semi-daydreaming state when--suddenly--I found
myself in what seemed like a scene from a movie. I
was seated in a small sloop coasting along near the shore of the Sea of
Galilee, a gentle breeze was quietly pushing the boat when I noticed him
standing at the waters edge. Do
you want to cross? I asked. "Why yes," he replied with a
kind-hearted grin, "May I come aboard?" I recognized him right off. It wasn't so much by his physical appearance as much as his distinct un-worldly presence that tipped me off, it was Jesus all right. He gathered up his robe and waded out into knee-deep water, then heaved himself over the gunnels into the boat. Without a word we set off for the opposite shore, but I couldn't help but notice that he was watching me intently. Then
he spoke, "Cody, I can see that you are a very skilled sailor. The
wind is barely blowing, yet you sense its direction by turning your face
skyward and feeling the way it moves over the down-like hairs on your
ears. Walking in the spirit is often like that. It's a still small voice
that you will miss completely if you're not paying close
attention." (1Ki19:12) Exactly,
that's how I got here to begin with. It was Mark Virkler's book, "Dialogue With
God,"* that encouraged me to quiet my mind and to imagine
myself in this Biblical scene with Jesus. While I began this experiment
with great hopes, I really couldn't believe how vividly things were
unfolding before me in my minds eye. Once
convinced that God really does want to speak to each and every one of
us, it then became a matter of learning how to shut off the chaotic
stimulus of the world about me. I needed to center down into the present
moment and rediscover what Virkler describes as the undeveloped
intuitive part of my mind. Modern
culture has placed its highest value on analytical skills which enable
us to survive in today's technological society, and most of our
education is focused on that end. However, we hail from another, a
heavenly kingdom where all this worldly wisdom is completely useless.
Isn't that what Paul was saying in his letter to the Romans? "Do
not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Ro 12:2 NIV) Jesus spoke again, "Cody, there is another thing that you already know, the rudder which steers the boat, only works when the boat is moving." I
took this to mean that further guidance would come, but only after
obeying what I had already been given. I decided to get my boat moving
and set sail for Mexico, actually I flew and got the additional
assurances I needed along the way. Jesus
often taught through parables and will still reveal things to us in that
way if we are alert to the possibility. He may, or may not do something
similar for you; apparently he enjoys being creative in dealing with
each of us uniquely as individuals. The good news is that he continues
to deal with us. <*{{{><
Would you like to be
able to hear the voice of God for yourself?
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