There is something about a good game of chase. You know the one: someone runs away from someone else and as they’re being chased, their stomach turns upside down, knees get weak, they get hit with a jolt of adrenaline, and audibly squeal with the thrill of being caught. My boys play it all the time and as they have gotten older, it usually results in frustration. The exasperation of not being able to catch the one they are pursuing leads to complaining, anger, and eventually giving up the game all together.

In reading Ecclesiates over the last week, I thought about what Solomon said in regard to our pursuit of the wind. Another word for pursuit would be chase. How often do I chase something that is completely unchaseable? Something I can’t see and can’t predict? Something that ends up leaving me defeated and exhausted, wanting to give up the game of chase, in this case life, all together? 

Wind is a common symbol of the Holy Spirit himself throughout scripture. In John 3, Jesus says, “the wind blows where it pleases and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going.” Why would I constantly try to chase something such as that? It’s so futile. Instead of a restless pursuit of the wind, I can choose to be guided by it. I can give into it. Chasing something means you ARE behind it, being guided by something means you are being led FROM behind. See the difference? We can lean into the wind, and walk with the Spirit as He convicts, directs, aids, and comforts. He keeps us from getting winded and gives us purpose. I may not know where He is going, but I know I want to be with Him and instead of being out of breath from all my efforts, His breath will be the breath in my lungs.