Having started by reflecting on the art of sailing and being led to the work of the Holy Spirit, I now come to some reflections on the nature & purpose of a windmill. [if you’ve not read the first post, I recommend you do so before continuing]
This weekend I visited the windmill mentioned in the earlier post. – see the photos included right & below…[These are personal reflections, representative of my own particular circumstances, offered here in case they’re useful to anyone else.
There are some similarities between a sailing boat and a windmill, as both have sails to catch the wind and both convert the power of the wind to put it to use. There are many distinctions between them, but the one which has proved most significant to me is this: a sailing boat is about a journey & having a destination in mind, whereas windmills are about industry & productivity.I felt God challenge me about the work of the Holy Spirit, then lead me to further reflect on the Windmill. So what message did He have for me? What did He want me to understand?
A windmill harnesses the power of the wind, but just as with a sailing boat, the sails must be ready to catch it – so I believe the first lesson is about preparation; be expectant & prepared.
In order for the windmill to be effective when the wind comes, it is important to ensure that the machinery is in good working order – so the second lesson is about systems; ensure the right systems are in place.
In anticipation of the arrival of the wind, with the sails set correctly and the internal systems in place, for the windmill to be productive, you must have a plentiful supply of wheat. The mill only turns when the wind blows, you can’t store the energy for later. So the third lesson is about the product; gather in the harvest.
One final thought which has felt significant as I’ve been reflecting, that is that once the corn has been milled, the product of the milling is pretty useless on its own (though it makes a pretty good explosive!); the milling is not the end of the process, the product of the milling then needs to be added to other ingredients to find its purpose. So perhaps the fourth lesson is about commission [specifically, ‘co-mission’]; there is still work to be done.
As one period of ministry comes to an end, I believe this is a lesson & a challenge for the next season. More on that in a few weeks…
