Although the grass was green, the ground of the soccer pitch was hard from the summer heat. When entering a playing field, I had a habit of leaning over to brush my hand across the grass. The contact always brought focus to the moment. That day held a bonus, something I had experienced before but rarely.
There was no game or practice. I was meeting a friend to kick around the ball at midmorning that day. It was a good field. I was in my teens and old enough to drive myself. I must have been early, or maybe my friend was late, but I found myself alone. With no one around, I had time to kill.
I wandered onto the field in sauntering teenage-male fashion. I paused in my walk at some nondescript part of the field because a warm breeze had softly kicked up. I felt it on my face. I felt it brush my hair. Standing there, in that moment, I thought, “Oh, this is for me.” To this day, the incident remains a vivid memory. It was as if the planet had blown me a kiss to say I was special. Then it passed.
This was not the first time, but that day stood out and remained with me over the years. Every once in a great while during my youth, a soft touch of creation communicated to me that I was in some way seen. Somehow known. And special.
I wasn’t a Christian in those days, although I believed in God, or thought that God likely existed. We see this concept in Paul’s sermon.
These “breeze” moments suggested to me there was something more about the world than just getting through each day, that there was some “one,” I guess God, who directed goodness my way. As a boy and a teen, that gave me hope. It would be another year or so before I came to know Jesus as the source of that goodness.
Days can blur and years speed by. But for believers and unbelievers alike, God is never far. Ask the Lord for a fresh breeze of hope and give thanks for His goodwill toward you.
Richard Ignace is a husband, father, astronomer, researcher, and beaming follower of Christ.