Good morning…
Anyone who has watched the 2016 Masters golf tournament knows it’s been a windy week in Georgia.
I actually love windy days because our wind chimes go wild, and my ears feel the movement of the benevolent breeze. The previous owner of our home graciously left us a set of wind chimes. They live outside our back door, hanging off our back porch. This spring, I have opened our screen door often, breathing in the chimes’ unpredictable melody. The invisible, undeniable force constantly running through all of life is caught by the song of these hand-me-down chimes.
One of my favorite movie clips harnesses the same invisible, unmistakable power. An unforgettable clip from the 1999 film “American Beauty” captures on video a plastic bag dancing wildly on the wind, begging tender souls, “Come play with me.” The young adult character shares the following words with his female companion as they watch together the video of this bag in flight: “It was one of those days when it’s a minute away from snowing and there’s this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. Right? And this bag was just dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. That’s the day I realized that there was this entire life behind things, and this incredibly benevolent force that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video’s a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember… I need to remember… Sometimes there’s so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can’t take it, and my heart is just going to cave in.” (www.imdb.com/title/tt0169547/quotes)
Yearning to remember, I love this film clip. I can relate to the tears in this young man’s eyes and the unexpected touch of his friend gently holding his vulnerable hand. A touch of solidarity. A touch of understanding. A touch of reassurance, “I know, I know. With this ever present force, beauty is everywhere and there is no reason to be afraid, ever.”
Jesus also catches the wind of God’s mighty Spirit, like this playful bag, like our hand-me-down chimes, like the golfer’s pants blowing in Augusta’s breeze. He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]…all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him. And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.] Colossians 1:15,17 (AMP).
We all need to feel the whisper of this benevolent breeze, “Beauty is everywhere and there is no reason to be afraid, ever.” To experience God’s presence in a powerfully creative way, please give yourself the gift of this short video: American Beauty – Flying bag scene (true HD & well sync’d). Let your mind play with Jesus’ personal invitation, “Come dance with me.”
Sue
