The Weather Radar within You
For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. – 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 (NRSV)
We all know this experience: The weather radar declares blue skies for the rest of the day. No precipitation, just a delightful afternoon. Meanwhile, you behold with your very own eyes a heavy, ominous cloud lurking on the horizon. The humidity is in your skin, your joints are aching, and your dog is hiding under the table. Your phone says, “Clear, blue skies,” but your body says, “Prepare for a thunderstorm.”
When this happens, who or what do you believe?
Admittedly, I’ve ignored my intuition in favor of a weather app’s false promises more than a few times. It always turns out okay in the end, but I’ve faced the very wet and somewhat frightening natural consequences that could have been avoided.
The Age of Information certainly has its benefits, and tools like weather apps can be helpful. But we must remain vigilant about how accurate those sources are. As Paul reminds us in his letter to the church in Corinth, God bestowed in us a deep inner-knowing—“the spirit within us”—which is far more reliable and steadfast than anything we can find on the internet.
When you see or hear something that doesn’t feel quite right, trust your intuition. Trust the spirit within you, calling and guiding you toward life-affirming and love-filled choices for yourself, your community, and the world.
We can’t control the weather, just like we can’t control many of life’s obstacles, but by the Spirit’s guidance we have everything we need to make good decisions. We must trust ourselves to know how to respond to and prepare for whatever might come.
Prayer
Spirit of God, help us trust the Spirit within to guide us. Amen.
About the AuthorJoanna D’Agostino is the Senior Pastor at Lakewood Congregational Church in Lakewood, Ohio.