Shepherd's Spring

“Spirit, spirit of gentleness. 

Blow through the wilderness, calling and free. 

Spirit, spirit of restlessness. Stir me from placidness. 

Wind, wind on the sea.”

This hymn has been a favorite of mine, and it was brought to mind today as I looked at the Potomac River pictured below.  See the placid water in the distance that goes through the rapids and get all churned up and becomes restless waters?

See the children in the picture that attended the Global Village?  The attempt today was to stir inside them some feelings of restlessness toward poverty and hunger.  The question they asked most of us was - “When is lunch?”  

This whole week has been stirring me from placidness into restlessness with all the conversations and experiential activities surrounding the theme of ending hunger in the world.  Stewart, our program director, pictured with the jar of amaranth, did a lot of the questioning and stirring prompting us to think, respond and share in our small group journeying together this week through this important topic.  I know in the end, or maybe I should say in the beginning, it is the Spirit who actually does the stirring, churning and up ending of my spirit.  

May I be open to new ideas, new avenues and new ways to reach out to the hungry in my community and across the world and let this journey not stop with this trip.  May you feel that restlessness as well.  Together we can accomplish much as a response to the great loved lavished upon us for Christ’s sake.