Turning Toward the Wind: Living Water and Divine Tones

    

    The other night I was watching an old Western on TV. The opening long shot was that of a ranch somewhere in the Southwest. The land parched and dusty. There was an old barn with a rickety windmill that stood alongside a pump supplying the whole ranch. Where the farm was, there was nothing for miles and miles—just more parched, dusty land.

    The windmill worked just fine since either a farm hand or the farmer would manually turn the windmill’s vane until it faced directly into the wind. Once aligned, the windmill began to pump water to sustain the ranch. There is an interesting parallel here.

    In my local neighborhood, there is a very large chain home improvement store. As I walked with my wife, our attention was caught by the sound of a display of many hanging chimes, tucked away in a remote aisle far from the garden center. They were all different sizes—from a few inches to a couple of feet—and a fan blew on them to make them sing. To my trained musical ear, the chiming reminded me of the ancient Greek Aeolian Harp: a set of strings arranged in harmony, played only by the unseen fingers of the wind. It is said that the notes float almost divinely in the air, as if angels were touching the strings—or the chimes.

    As with the windmill and the chimes, both must be intentionally positioned: the windmill turned into the wind so water flows, the chimes placed before the fan so their tones soothe the soul. I think of those who feel unsupported, isolated, and weary—straining to pump water to quench their spiritual thirst or longing for the chimes to sound. At times, we too must intentionally reposition ourselves daily, so that we and others may drink deeply and be soothed.

    Service for God flows from within and outward:  

"If you believe in Me, come and drink! For the Scripture declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within."* — John 7:38 (NLT)

    To touch the lives of others, we must let God speak to our depths, refreshed by heavenly waters or divine tones. Let us return to the Source of life, drink deeply from the well, and call others with our chimes.

"Peace is flowing like a river,  Flowing out through you and me;  Flowing out into the desert,  Setting all the captives free." — Anon.

Are you feeling dry? Embrace the love of God. Let His waters flow from within, and let your tones call to those who thirst.