Come Fly With Me!

By Missey Butler
Guest Writer

CBN.com -- March has finally arrived and with it, the blustering winds that so characterize the season.

The other day, I was watching two young boys frantically trying to launch into flight a large, somewhat clumsy, homemade kite.

It was rather comical to watch, as all attempts to achieve lift-off were met with one miserable nose dive after another. The Wright Brothers they were not, but tenacious and determined … that they were!

I noticed how the older brother firmly held the flying triangle with it’s bow-tie tail streaming close behind. He then lifted it high up in the air, as if offering it up to God for the simple exchange of a shifting wind, that would tell him that his request had been heard.

Without warning, he tore off running as hard as he could with little brother in tow, yelling behind him! I found myself caught up in the moment as well, saying under my breath, Come on, Come on, Come on … and suddenly, it happened. An invisible gust swooped in under his arm and snatched the flying wonder up, up, and away! Shouts of jubilant cheers bellow forth from both of the young boys (and me as well!).

“We have lift-off,” I said to myself, as I sat there and watched with a sense of awe (not so much at the boys flying the kite but at what I envisioned must have taken place in the Spirit). The Father’s arm was extending down from Heaven and reaching into the much anticipated desire of the oldest brother’s heart. I sat there and just smiled at the thought of our ever-loving, “Abba, Daddy!"

The following morning, while checking off my weekly “to do” list and finishing my last few spoonfuls of cheerios. I heard God say, “Why don’t YOU… go fly a kite!”

I immediately recognized God’s gentle interruption, as a loving suggestion. But even those loving suggestions are more like recommended commands, because there is usually something He wants to teach me. And besides that, the Lord has been reminding me lately that “late obedience” is the same as disobedience. So what did I do? I re-

prioritized my morning and took myself and my wallet to the local Ben Franklin discount store and purchased a kite.

I have to admit, the adult in me felt a little conspicuous standing there with kite in hand, waiting to be rung up. I quickly paid for the kite, thanked the cashier, and off I went.

I am fortunate to live near an area that has many wonderful historic battleground sites that are open to the public. This is a perfect place to fly a kite -- no trees, no telephone wires, not a thing for miles and miles.

I scouted out just the right spot, parked the car, and headed for the open field. Right away I began assembling my fragile flying machine. After a few aborted attempts, I was able to catch just the right combination of drag and lift as I watched my triangle of red, blue, and yellow soar up and up with a mighty gust.

The ball of string was unwinding so fast in my hands, that I was expecting to see signs of smoke appear. I looked up to find my kite was becoming smaller and smaller against the canvas of vibrant blue and cottony clouds.

Then, suddenly as if following the lead of a well rehearsed dance partner, my flying wonder began to move about with such grace and ease. The movement was almost hypnotic. I watched, completely mesmerized by its swirling trails, climbing ascents, swooping flips and long dives downward.

Then I heard in my spirit the following words:

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)."

Everyday, as we listen closely for the voice of the Lord, we do engage in a step by step, moment by moment walk of faith. I now understand why I needed to go and fly a kite that morning. It was a great object lesson for me, in how we are to move only by the pulse of the Spirit.

The wind blows wherever it pleases, and so too is our response to His lead. “Yes, Lord, wherever you lead … I will follow.”