Winds of Change

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’" (Matthew 9:36-38. NLT)

Forgive me, my readers for I have sinned. It has been over a month since my last posting! I am involved in putting the finishing touches on the book, and getting it ready for copyediting. I am surprised (as always) at how many last minute details are involved in this process.

We are in the Rio Grande Valley, as I write, and have been here since January third. It is unseasonably hot down here. The weather people say ten to twelve degrees higher than normal. The wind is light at this moment, but promises to increase in it’s intensity as the day progresses. We have had much wind recently, sometimes gusting as high as sixty miles per hour (not entirely dissimilar to summer in Iowa)!

I can see the winds of change blowing here as well. This is the fourth time that we have spent the winter in the Valley. I must say that I have, in years past, not been particularly been impressed with what I have seen going on spiritually here in the Texas tropics. In spite of the presence of a Christian congregation (at least nominally) in nearly each RV park, and several good churches in the communities, and the presence of such places as Bibleville, the Baptist conference center, and the Rio Grande Bible College, I have not perceived any strong movement of the Holy Spirit. This place always seemed like a spiritual desert, with many Christian people just "going through the motions."

This year seems to be different. Perhaps it is because I have been more in touch with those who are the yielded vessels through whom the Spirit is moving. Perhaps His movement, like the wind in the grass (John 3:8), is just now reaching the spot where I am. Perhaps my eyes are just now being opened to His work here. I don’t know the reason, or if there even is a particular reason that I am just now noticing; I just know that I am seeing the movement of His Spirit here in a way that I have never noticed previously.

Friends Jack and Karen Gregory (Adventureland Chaplain) arrived here a couple of weeks ago. Jack became a candidate to be a Chaplain at one of the nearby parks last week. We went over to lend moral support and encouragement when he preached there last Sunday. From what he told me about his impressions of the park, I sensed that the Holy Spirit is beginning to move in that congregation. As Jack and I talked over the last few days about what Christian Resort Ministries International is doing here, I began to have a vision of small Bible study and prayer groups springing up all over the Valley in the seasons ahead.

And it isn’t just the CRMI group that is being moved by His Spirit. Our park has a congregation, and Bible study has no connection with CRMI, but has emerged as a work of the Spirit, all by itself over the last few seasons. It was clear to me right away that God was at work in the group of Christians here.

A second thing I have noticed since I have been here is this pervading sense of purposelessness in the general population of the "snowbird" community. This isn’t particularly new, but it has been something that I have noticed more than ever this year. There are so many that are just living to be entertained, and going from activity to activity to while away the hours until they head back north. Now please don’t misunderstand me. These are very wholesome activities, and there is nothing wrong with participating in any of them, at least that I have seen, but I firmly believe that our God has a purpose for each of His children, and what I am seeing in so many who inhabit the Rio Grande Valley is a lack of any sense of this purpose in their lives. I identify with Jesus in the above passage in that so many seem "confused and helpless" and like "sheep without a shepherd", they seem to lack direction in their lives. In contrast, many of the believers, particularly those who are more mature in the Faith, have that sense of purpose, and direction. Jesus said "my sheep [know] my voice . . ." (John 10:27)

Even as the strong winds blow up the Rio Grande, so does the mighty wind of the Spirit move in our midst here. I am excited to see what He will do in the days ahead.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me today.