Starter Prayer: All praise be Yours, my God, through Brothers Wind and Air. And fair and stormy, all the weather’s moods, by which You cherish all that You have made. Amen

–St. Francis of Assisi

Focus Phrase: Wind Generates Life

Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-2 and Psalm 104: God the Creator and Provider; 

Optional Read-along: Water, Wind, Earth and Fire pp. 15-19a (Chapter One: Brother Wind, Section: Wind and Creation.)

Spiritual Direction:

I used to hate wind. I’m still not a fan of wind that blows hot, blows pollen, blows my hair into my lipgloss, or wind that raises a dust storm in New Mexico, which I can see advancing on my campsite from 100 miles away. 

Two things have elevated my bad feelings about the wind. Thing 1: An essay written by Erma Bombeck near the end of her life. Bombeck reflected on her regrets. One regret was not letting her husband drive with the windows down in summer, because the wind would ruin her hairdo.

I, Katie, LOVE driving with the windows down; so I got my hair cut. And I determined I would always have either: a.) short hair that looks fine wind blown; or b.) hair long enough to be contained in a ponytail. I still live by this hair-to-wind ethic. (Thank you Erma Bombeck for helping me recover a piece of myself through your humor!)

The second thing that changed my relationship with the wind is Celtic spirituality. (Not quite as funny as Erma, but it has its place.) As such, I recommend Christine Valters Paintner’s book, Water, Wind, Earth and Fire. If you’re not doing the optional read-along and would like the book, email Keah at [email protected]. We have copies! 

This week, try one or more of these wind-appreciation activities, beginning today and continuing each day for one week. You may have better ideas, but here’s a list to get us started:

• Go sailing.
• Watch birds flying.
• Lay on the grass and gaze at clouds drifting by.
• Fly a kite.
• Install a wind chime at your house.
• Rest in the shade and relish the cool breeze.
• Burn a candle; then blow it out and watch the smoke rise. Remember, your prayers are carried to heaven as “smoke rising.”
• Consider the power of a windmill.
• Drive with all the windows down and the music blaring.
• Google “wind energy” and learn more about it.

Say this Celtic Blessing over yourself and your loved ones today:

Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
which fans your face on a sultry day,
the air which you breathe deeply, rhythmically,
which imparts to you energy, consciousness, life.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you! 

Be encouraged in your practice,
Katie Martinez

Endnotes

• For daily texts with the Focus Word, Starter Prayer and link to these daily posts, text the word “journey” to 970-500-0970.
• Are you receiving the weekly guide every Sunday via email? Register here.
• Join the Orange Dots of Hope Facebook Group for spiritual conversations on the journey.

This daily devotion is part of the Summer Growth Journey: Learning to Pray with Nature with Crossroads Church. Many of us are also reading through Water, Wind, Earth & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements by Christine Valters Paintner. To purchase a copy, or for more information, email us at [email protected].