Winds and Whispers
I love wind, especially a cooling breeze when I'm doing yard work or taking a walk at the end of a warm day. The way the wind sets water in motion, causing waves to splash along the shoreline or the pine trees to sway, is nothing short of wondrous to me. But a strong breeze is not always welcome, especially if I am cleaning up leaves or walking up a steep hill. The coronavirus is the storm we didn't see coming -- the BIG one that has blown us all off course and resulted in death, destruction, and a virtual shutdown of our lives, our economy, and our world. It has forced many of us to change the way we work, worship, and interact with others. There are several references to wind in the Bible but the one that sticks out to me in this season of upheaval is found in the story of Elijah's encounter with God in 1 Kings chapter 19. In verses 1-8 we read that after learning from Ahab that Elijah had killed all the prophets, Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah threatening to