In talking to Nicodemus about the necessity of being born of the Spirit, Jesus said, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Think about ways we encounter wind: gentle breezes that bring coolness, steady winds and gusts that make sailboats move and generate power, violent winds that are capable of reshaping the earth. We cannot see the wind, only its effects. Can the Holy Spirit’s action in your life be likened to the power and movement of wind? Have you been inspired by the Spirit to do things without knowing what would result?
We often make decisions by listening to a gut instinct or inner voice. However, it is not always easy to tell when the voice prompting us is the Holy Spirit and when it is the voice of selfishness or cultural messages that are at odds with Catholic faith. These influences can have a power that might also be likened to the wind, but they have different effects that the Holy Spirit. One way to figure out if the Holy Spirit is prompting an action is to ask yourself if it is likely to lead to greater joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and most especially, love.