This beautiful dog was taken for a walk to the top of a cliff along the Cornish coast. It was the first time that he had been there. Being a Spaniel he has the most acute sense of smell and he sat in this position catching all of the smells that the strong breeze was bringing his way for a long time. He was just drinking in the new and fresh experience. With his ears swept back by the breeze I wonder what sounds he was picking up too?
He was on high alert.
Seeing this photograph, taken by my son, the phrase, ‘catching the breeze’ went through my brain. A dog operates almost more by smell and sound than by sight, however we as humans are mostly visually driven, how different is their experience of the world than ours.
In the Bible the Spirit of God is likened to a rushing wind and we read of the breath of God and we are more likely to sense His presence than to see His presence, in a literal way. This dog does not need to be told to smell or listen out for the new or the unusual, it is deep within his DNA. However I believe we as human beings, need to practice sitting in the breeze of the Spirit, turning our face or ours ears to the presence of God. Perhaps when we were new Christians we were more acutely attuned to the newness of Jesus and how he was impacting us in a new fresh way.
Do our senses become dulled over time?
Our current world encourages us to have eyes on screen in whatever form that may be and at any time, whether that is our mobile phones, our Zoom meetings, our TVs, or the multitude of other visual a stimuli which are around us. God on the other hand always says ‘Be still and know that I am God’. His presence is all around us and within us, but perhaps we need to capture again the space, time and ability to sit alert, senses honed believing that the breath of God is enabling us to catch his voice on the breeze and to sense his presence once again.
Speak Lord, your servant is listening, is my prayer.
Prayer for the Regional Team
Hayley, Beth & Graeme have some time off this week, so if you need to speak to an RM, then get in contact with Nick.
On Sunday Nick is preaching at Shotgate, Graeme is preaching at Stoke Green and has the Induction of Shane Hughes, Minister in Training at Holly Lodge, Ipswich, Beth will be worshipping with one of our churches
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