“Walking with the Wind’
Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., Contributing Writer
As an instructor at Louisiana State University I received a book award. One of the books I selected was “Walking with the Wind, by John Lewis. This book was a memoir of the Civil Rights Movement. The wind is an indication of change and a new weather pattern. Creatures are always aware of the changing wind currents. Eagles usually find the strong wind current to guide their flight. Walking with the wind means that we must walk with the Spirit of God. In biblical script God’s Spirit is compared to wind.
“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. The Spirit moves like the wind and we can not determine the direction. How do we walk with the Wind?
The year 2020 has been difficult for all of us, a global pandemic, civil unrest, severe hurricanes, fires, and other calamities. To walk with the wind means to be guided and directed by God’s Spirit. We have been asked to change our routines and wear face coverings and social distance. This is new for all of us, but it is God’s Spirit which should help us listen to the science and remain faithful in our daily experiences. As Christian believer’s it is imperative that we listen to God’s voice through the Spirit. This is not the first time we have had difficult times in our lives. We as a people have endured slavery, discrimination, Jim Crow laws, and racial profiling. Our survival was in the Almighty Hands of God. I could remember the Old Preacher’s saying in my formative years of faith the following, “Over my head I hear music in the air, Over my head I hear music in the air, Over my head I hear music in the air, There must be a God somewhere.” We know God is with us in our suffering, pain, and existential circumstances.
Secondly, we walk with the wind when we participate in the wind of change. As a child I use to watch the animals prepare for winter, because they would feel the wind and feel the temperature change. The squirrels would gather food for the long winter, the birds would fortify their nest. Today, we feel the wind of change and we see the power of participation in our society. We see a new generation challenging us to make a change. This new generation has grown weary of our politics of separation and exclusion, they have grown weary of our Sunday only faith. We must listen to the voices of change and we must support a new generation of freedom fighters. In class a few days ago, one of my students asked, “When we change the names of buildings is that enough?” My student was really asking, “When will policy changes come in conjunction with changing a building’s name?” We must listen to an articulate and engaged generation. I am an instructor in African and African American Studies, but I am also a student, who continues to learn, and I teach.
Lastly, we walk with the wind when we prepare for the upcoming change. We are on the brink of new leadership in the White House. This new leadership when give us a breath of fresh air. This new leadership will participate in giving all of us a new voice. How do we prepare for the upcoming change? We listen to a new generation of freedom fighters. We should give them an opportunity to participate in a new agenda. An agenda of inclusion and not exclusion, an agenda of speaking for the least of among us. We must be open for the voices of this new generation, and we should serve as mentors and advisors for the new generation of freedom fighters. As our elder’s gave us some advice and direction, we too should serve as advisors. In African Traditional religion and other faith traditions. The wise person gives the wisdom to the community. Let us give the community direction as guided by the Spirit of God.
