“The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 NLT)
There is a pair of Canadian geese nesting in our neighborhood pond. Usually they just swim around sedately as I run by--but today they were honking loudly. I watched them more carefully because of all the noise. Geese can be unpredictable. They will attack without warning. As I got closer, they flew off on their powerful wings.
The image of a dove is often used to represent the Holy Spirit. Doves are gentle and safe. They make soft cooing sounds. Nobody feels threatened by a dove. Celtic Christians saw the wild goose as a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Unlike a dove, a goose is unpredictable and difficult to control. It makes loud, honking sounds. Geese are vigilant, protective, and powerful.
Both the dove and the wild goose may represent different attributes of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He may come gently and whisper quietly. Other times She may be loud and unpredictable. The Spirit of God can be as pleasant as a breeze or as powerful as a tornado. Like the wind, the Holy Spirit will remain uncontrollable and unexplainable.
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