The river that flows into the lake, the birds bopping on the waves, the ever changing hues of the water, and the sun reflecting off the surface transforming it into a stream of glittering diamonds.
The big body of water and surrounding mountains provide a uniquely sheltered and pleasant climate.
I have always loved sailing and I found myself explaining that the few sail boats on the lake were drifting or moving very slowly because of a phenomenon peculiar to that geographical location. In the morning a breeze usually comes down from the North and in the afternoon it turns around and a stronger breeze comes up the lake from the South. Right now it was mid-day "in between winds", so the boats were still, waiting for the wind to turn.
Then a thought came to me. That can be applied to what we are at times going through in our life and ministry. Sometimes we are "in between winds"!
I am sure the Lord is pleased with our desire to serve, and when we ask God, "what would You have me do?" - and pray for Him to reveal His plan for our lives. I am sure He appreciates our wanting to follow and bear fruit, but there are times when we feel like that poem, "I was longing to serve the Master, but alas I was laid aside..." then we just have to wait for the wind to pick up and fill our little sail to put the boat back in motion.
Something I had read long ago also came to mind...
"Even a grain of dust, as small as it is, can sparkle like a diamond, if it will get in the sunshine... Watch the diamonds of dust! They don't try to sparkle and shine. They just let the light shine through them! They don't try to work to shine or move... They just float so quietly on God's air--and only get stirred up when He blows up a storm."
"...they can rest until Thy breath catches them and they float again into the sunlight!... Help us not to try to stir them up ourselves, but to wait for the Breath of Thy Spirit."
We may be in a situation where we have obligations, and we can sometimes feel our little ministry doesn't amount to much. I am confident however that the wind of His spirit will blow again. Whether it will be some new ministry, changing World conditions, a new generation, or a new surprising move of His Spirit, who knows? - He knows!
We may feel our little ministry doesn't amount to much, and we may be tempted to feel discouraged and defeated. But we may simply be "in between winds."
I'll continue to aim high, dream big and do the best I can with however humble tasks He entrust to my care. It's no good however trying to blow on our own sail. The diamonds of dust just float so quietly on God's air - and only get stirred up when He blows up a storm. It's God's business to send the wind in His way and in His time.
"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." ~ Psalm 27:14
