How Dust Dwellers Can Soar

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We had packed a picnic and settled into the green grass, our eyes glued to the blue above.

The sun began to sink slow, the lake swallowing its orange shadows like a beggar consuming a Thanksgiving feast.

The air hung hot and heavy. Children grew restless.

Are you sure we can see them from here? my little ones ask.


I scanned the horizon, checked my watch, wondered if the balloons had failed to launch.

I packed the empty cooler back into the van and tried to decide if we should linger longer or just drive home and begin the bedtime routine.

Then a burst of yellow sprung above the tree line.

And my decision was sealed.

Children squealed.

Grown-ups stood.

My littlest one clung to my knees uncertain of whether to cry or clap at the awesome sight.

We craned our necks and marveled, watched the sky transform into a polka-dot party of color.

The kids scrambled for a closer look, raced to higher ground and waved their hands in wonder.
I  joined the children on the hillside and savored their giddy glee.

A balloon dropped low. The silhouette inside the basket turned into a chiseled face. A toothy smile.

The kids jumped up and down.  Screamed hello. Asked the flyer where he was going.

Josh reached for the swaying basket as if he could lasso the whole thing and soar along.

The balloonist laughed and waved as the sizzle of flames took him higher and higher.

Josh stomped his foot, annoyed to be still standing on the ground.

I thought of that motley crew of believers anointed by flames and remembered how the Spirit’s heat had caused them to soar, too.

I pictured those tongues of fire that had caused the humble to rise, the flames that had lifted the cowards to courage.

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. 
 
It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. Acts 2:2-3

Had they been afraid? Those dust dwellers who dared to fly? 


Did they know where they would land? Have any idea to what heights they would soar? To what depths they would dip? 

These were Hannah’s questions, too.
 


 

While her brother searched for higher ground, she shuffled to my side, her blue eyes following the spin of stripes hovering high over the dusky waters.

Where is he going? she asked, carefully lacing her warm fingers through mine.

Wherever the wind takes him, I replied with a smile.

But where will he land? she persisted, her brow furrowed with concern.

I don’t know. 

Does HE know? 

I’m not sure.

We watched the dangling basket disappearing until it was a tiny dot in the sky.

I’d be afraid to even get in, my middle child admitted.

I nodded, understanding this sweet one at my side.

I, too, have lived afraid of where the Spirit-wind might take me.

I, too, have fought to keep my feet on the ground where I knew the terrain and could calculate the next step with caution.

Countless times I’ve clung to the crags of this world rather than surrendering to the fire of faith.

But as I hold my daughter’s hand and watch those balloons waltz with the twilight; 
as I remember those first followers and how they soared despite themselves, 
I wonder why.

Why have I dug my nails in the dirt and demanded to know my next step.

Why have I prayed for sturdy ground beneath my feet rather than begging for the courage to dance across the clouds? 

What if I said yes? 
Yes to soaring without seeing.
Yes to the flames that lift me from the dust.
Yes to a wind-swept life.

“You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.” John 3:7-8

My phone sings and I read a text from my husband sky-gazing at home.
 
“We’ve got the best seat in the house. There are balloons everywhere!”
 
I laugh and tell the kids that I think I’ve figured out where all those flyers are headed.
 

My phone rings once more.


Rob’s excited voice cries,
“You won’t believe this. There’s a balloon landing right in our front yard!”


A sound like a mighty wind drowns out our connection and I spin into action.


I grab the kids and we race for the van, veer around the lake and head back up the hill that leads home. 

As we pull into the yard, the balloon crew is packing up, their smiles inviting us to join.
 

 
It’s hard to believe the limp lump of fabric lying on our driveway is the same blazing beauty we’d just seen in the sky.
 
Devoid of air and flame, the balloon is small enough to fit into an oversized sack; collapsed and flat like a dream deferred. Or a life bankrupt of faith. Or a woman who refuses to say yes.
 
 
The balloon is packed into the back of a pick-up truck and the flight team bids us good-night.
 
I watch them drive away and realize afresh how cowards find the courage to fly.
 
Those who soar say yes. 


Yes to being filled.  
Yes to Jesus. 
Yes to the Spirit. 
Yes to the journey.
Yes despite fear. 
Yes despite ourselves.

Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete 2 Cor 1:20-22
 
I think of my son reaching for that big balloon and I pray for the courage to grab the Savior’s hand, always reaching for mine. The courage to free fall into the wind and see where He leads.


Perhaps the key is not in knowing where we’re going, but in knowing the ONE who directs the wind.


The courageous cling to His PROMISES rather than their own plans.
 
Oswald Chambers calls it gracious uncertainty 
 
“…gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain of all our ways, we do not know what a day brings forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it shoudl be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God….” (My Utmost for His Highest).
 
 
 



Suddenly I see it as clearly as the laughing children racing across my yard in pursuit of yet another balloon. 


I can say yes to the journey because He’s already told me where I’ll land.


Jesus is preparing a place for us. 
Right in His front yard.


When we surrender to the wind, the Spirit will always blow us Home.

 

 



The Overflow: You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. But I’m in the very presence of God— oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. Psalm 73:25-28


Sharing in community with Jennifer aGetting Down With Jesus and with jen for soli deo gloria 

Alicia

15 Comments

  1. You fly with the Spirit better than anyone I know, friend!

  2. Whoooo hoo!
    I really want to take Mark on a balloon ride! Absolutely amazing!!!
    This is an amazing opportunity…I can only imagine how fun it was!
    Your pictures are awesome!
    I love your analogy….I am often shocked where I land!?

  3. How beautiful to grasp for the Father’s hand and know that we will always land safely…I hope you continue to have courage to say yes…we both know it is worth it…hard, but He is worth it. 🙂

  4. What fun!! A number of years ago… nearly 20, I think… we used to have some big balloon events here in Omaha; we’d go to the large midtown location the night before and watch them be put in place, etc., and the next morning would see them flying over various locations in town. It was so neat to see this. I’ve actually forgotten about it until you showed this post. I wouldn’t desire to be IN one, but do love to watch them.

    Re: the Spirit. I WOULD “fly” with the Lord any time. One of the most joyful events of my life is when this occurs and reoccurs over and over again. However, I can trust Him. I can’t trust a balloon’s materials and the fire. Too humanly connected. Fun to watch; wouldn’t be fun to jump into.

    You shared beautifully. Thank you.

  5. Oh, Alicia!
    Your story and photos stole my heart! This is just what I needed today — sitting here tottering on the fence of some big decisions. I need to trust where the Wind blows.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for inspiring courage, friend!

  6. What an incredible picture of TRUST! Thank you So very much for sharing your heart and putting faith into such sweet terms. Beautiful

    Would love for you to share with our Heart&Home community at mercyinkblog.com 🙂

    blessings to you today,

    lauren

  7. Giving up control is hard but giving up control to God should not be hard. Thanks for the reflections.

  8. Oh, Kathy- flying takes so much faith. so much unknown. I am always blessed when you visit here. Praying for you, friend.

  9. OOOOhhhhhh!!!!! I remember seeing a balloon or two flying low over our pasture land and wanting so badly to join them or have them land nearby!

    The Lord has totally called me into the great beyond with no where yet to land…flying on wings of faith, wondering what is in store. Also a call that is uncomfortable, and I resist self-doubt, and all that goes with it, the resisting of the fleshly fears and unbelief and walking with no feet, but wings…waiting on His Spirit to direct and His provision to come in, and His door-Opener to be there at just the right time.

    Alicia, your writing is as breath-taking as soaring in a balloon (I imagine it to be!) Beautiful words!

    love,
    Kathy

  10. oh sweet sweet gift from the Lord…hot air balloons are so fun…and great analogy…yes..yes.. lets spread our wings and let the winds of His Spirit take us where He desires. blessings~

  11. What an amazing experience for all of you. Your photos are so stunning, and I love the looks of pure joy on the kids’ faces. Divine!

    Soar on, sister. You’re flying high with the Most High.

  12. What a cool experience, Alicia! And yes, trusting God with our yes even when we don’t know where the Spirit will lead us. Love this one!

  13. There is so much good stuff here in this post…Dust dwellers, daring to fly… and this “Perhaps the key is not in knowing where we’re going, but in knowing the ONE who directs the wind.” And then the quote from Oswald Chambers. Wow.
    Thank you for sharing your words today. I am blessed and challenged reading here.

  14. Beautiful photos and wonderful analogy~The wind blows, the spirit leads, and who knows where we will land.
    Keep up the God work.

  15. Celebrating the abundance of all this with you friend. So glad the wind of the Spirit has passed your way. Your kids will treasure this post someday…Love the Scripture woven in the story…beautiful

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