The Real Deal

Many times have I heard the question asked, "Why is it that when you blow in a dog's face, it gets mad, but when you put it in a car, it sticks its head out the window?" This is only one member of life's most confounding questions, and usually I ignore these questions because they aren't really meant to be answered. However, the other day as my father and I were driving around, we saw a dog sticking its head out of the window of a car, he asked the question, and for whatever reason, I decided to answer.
"Well, you see..."

Generally, when these are the opening words of a statement of mine it implies that something absurdly ridiculous will follow which is intended to incite laughter and not to be taken seriously. As I answered life's boggling question of why dogs like to stick their heads out of the windows of moving vehicles, I realized that though the intent was to be silly there was perhaps something deeper that could be drawn from it.

"... they prefer to stick their heads out of the window because then they can feel the wind full force; when you blow on their faces, it's like a teaser and they don't want a counterfeit-- they want the real deal."

In Acts 2:2, the Holy Spirit is referred to as a violent wind which filled the room the disciples were in. Other passages referring to the wind also hold deep meaning for God's people.
"He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants" Psalm 104:4
"In speaking of the angels [God] says, 'he makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire'" Hebrews 1:7 (Paul quotes from Psalm 104:4)
The Holy Spirit is often represented by wind and fire, and when God's disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit, powerful things happen to glorify God. We, as disciples of Christ, are called to be God's messengers, sharing His love and taking it to the ends of the earth. God deeply desires us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with the violent wind and fire of His power. He wishes to make us messengers like His angels, willingly ministering to others on earth through the power of His Holy Wind.
Maybe its time for us to learn a lesson from God's canine creations. It's time that we stop allowing ourselves to be satisfied with quick, sporadic encounters with God and instead immerse ourselves in Him, letting the wind of His Holy Spirit blow on us full force. It's time for us to experience the real deal.