Published: Monday 27th of May 2024
A Rushing Mighty Wind
We have just passed through the time known in the UK as Whitsuntide. Elsewhere it may be called Pentecost, (a word meaning 50), the fiftieth day starting from and including Easter Sunday. When I was young it was an important date in everyone's calendar, but these days not so many people know of it. That's a pity, because it was during Pentecost that the Disciples had a most telling experience, recounted in the Bible in Acts 2 – an experience explaining the very nature of God in a way we would understand today.
This happened following the death of Jesus, after which the Disciples became separated and unsure as to how they could carry on the work of their master. Then something happened that brought them together again. Each dreamt they should go to where they last met, when Jesus was still alive – the Upper Room in a house belonging to one of their followers. How amazed they must have been to find out they all had a similar dream to one another.
As they sat together, speaking of their hopes and fears for the future, they suddenly heard the sound and felt the force of a rushing mighty wind, coming out of nowhere and coursing through the room about them. Then over the heads of everyone they saw bright flares of colour like tongues of flame. No one was afraid, but felt instead an inner strength which pushed aside all their doubts. After that time they began to teach others, speaking to them in their own language so it is said. People may not believe it today, but when the soul is re-energised in the way that happened to the Disciples, miracles of all types both large and small are possible.
The rushing wind we will come to in a moment. But what explanation is there for the tongues of fire? Was it not that the eyes of the Disciples were opened to the colours of the aura – the orange of determination, the red of strength, and the yellow of goodwill prompted by the soul. These feelings were to play an important part in the work that each one undertook, in having to face great opposition from the many enemies of the light.
I must confess that mentioning tongues of fire brings a smile to my face, thinking of an experience often related by Gladys, our wonderful teacher and the founder of Studies on Life. She recalled walking into the room where she did much healing and teaching, seeing flames leaping up from the healing couch. 'Fire! Fire!' she shouted in panic. And immediately the flames disappeared, for the flames were the vibrant colours that had built up in the room, no longer visible once her brain reacted with alarm.
Returning to the subject of the rushing mighty wind, I was fascinated to hear of this recent dream from someone asking for my interpretation. In the dream she was standing in a field looking at a wind turbine. It had two men at the top of the tower, making repairs. She remembered thinking to herself that the men were not ordinary mortals.
One of the first things I am reminded of being taught by Gladys, is that the wind represents the unseen power of the life force in the atmosphere about us, that many in the past and some today call 'God'. For the most part we use this power unthinkingly, sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. As we start to learn how not to react to situations with negative feelings such as frustration or irritation, but to encourage feelings of appreciation and patience instead, then more and more is the power used for good. The symbol of the wind turbine shows that the power can then be 'harnessed' to serve other people, perhaps many people.
In the dream the turbine was being repaired by two men not of the earth, showing there are those of Spirit behind the scenes willing to help us learn, often during sleep, how to make our individual efforts count. It also shows that the power the Disciples used so many years ago to bless others is neither lost nor forgotten. It is something we can aspire to even today, using our own soul as it grows with light.
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[Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.]
Author: Colin