Читать книгу The Book of Gratitudes - Pablo R. Andiñach - Страница 9

Wind moves ships and windmills. It billows out flags and clears the skies. It also destroys and topples trees. Wind can be friendly or fearful, a blessing or a catastrophe. In the Bible, wind is a frequently named natural element, perhaps because it is perceived as one of the most primitive experiences: does anyone remember the first time that strange and invisible force was felt?

There are several different uses for the word “wind” in the Old Testament. The Spirit of God is called ruach, which means “the wind of breath.” This is why there are situations in which God’s ruach blows and others, in which the wind simply blows. However, both winds come from the Creator.

The prophet Ezekiel was taken to a valley full of human bones. In the Biblical tradition, human bones transmit impurity and should not be touched. We are told that Ezekiel had to walk close by them, perhaps with a certain amount of fear or reverence. And there they were, old dry bones, remnants of forgotten beings. Since Adam had created the word “land,” he could say that there were so many bones, that they covered the entire landscape. Could all those dry old bones join back together and come alive?

The prophet carried out his office and prophesied what God had told him. In a marvelous whirlwind, the bones began to come together and find each other, much like someone putting together the pieces of broken ceramic jar. Next came the tendons and the flesh; until the skin covered all into place. They had everything but the wind, that force which fills the sails and cools the evening heat. And this wind only comes from God.

One more word from the prophet was enough, and from the four winds came the wind. For it is the Spirit of God that vivifies and amalgamates life, by joining the parts together so that they cease to be separate pieces placed next to each other, to become a body. The presence of the Spirit, that mysterious wind, completed what was lacking. And they became a vast army.

(Ezekiel 37:1–14)