Posted on November 14th, 2022.

By: Darrell Faucett

Growing up as a young boy it was always a fascination of mine to fly a kite. As a member of a less than a wealthy family, I had learned to improvise on many occasions. On this particular time, tried my hand at making my own kites from scratch, homemade. Obviously the first of these prototypes were extremely crude to say the least. So, trying to fly these paperweights was less than successful in the beginning. The one thing I remember is running with all my strength to try and loft these pitiful replicas of a kite. I tried to change up the design and added tails and ribbons to stabilize with no hope for a successful launch.

Eventually it was probably from pity that someone had purchased me a kite from the store including a spool of proper kite string. Once handed to me, I ripped the seal off of this baby as fast as I could and looked at this beautiful piece of aerodynamic wonder. I did take note of the construction and noticed that the wood pieces were made from extremely lightweight wood unlike the heavy tree limbs that my homemade counterparts were crafted from. In a rush to put this kite together it was all that I could do to contain my excitement. Finally, she was ready for flight and out the door I ran. With but one thing on my mind once I had arrived at the appointed spot, I begin to as I had done before, ran with all of my strength to coerce this store bought wonder to soar like a bird. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Just like my homemade birds had done in the past this stupid kite spun around a few times like a pinwheel and bounced to the ground with a thud! What the heck, I thought? While completely tired from running and out of breath I gave up and went home extremely discouraged, OK fine I was unhappy and mad at this dumb kite. Must have been a defective kite I thought. Could it have been my gifter purchase this kite from a special on sale defective kite area of the store? On the next day I was less than motivated to approach the shame of the previous day.

As time passed, I tried to recreate my efforts in the attempt to ferret out any major mistakes that I might have made. I just couldn't continue the process for long, as again the pain of defeat was stronger than the desire to understand the why, I was done with the whole mess. I hadn’t noticed that as I was going through this process, I was outside. Walking through my yard and with frustration kicked the ground below me and notice something strange, when I kicked the ground a small cloud of dust arose and was carried away by a puff of wind. This day was different than the day before. There was a light breeze which got me thinking, could it be that simple? I ran to my room and grabbed the defective kite and out the door I went. Again, to the same spot as I had the day before. This time, before I could start to run the darn thing jerked out of my hand and was aloft before I could even figure out what was happening. Woo-hooo! I screamed as this beauty started to reach for the heavens unspooling the entire roll of string. If only I had more string I thought. Before I knew it, this defective kite was so high that I could barely see it. Joy overwhelmed me as I watched this wonder of aerodynamics and realized I didn't have to run to get her up. It was the wind, and without this wind I was wasting my time and energy. That without the wind, no amount of running was able to bring this kite to fly.

Possibly by now you will see where I'm going with this. As young Christians we become so excited to do, to change the world, to earn and perhaps feel worthy of God's love, we try to do this of our own strength. We read the Bible, go to church, listen to praise music, and vowed to never sin again. All good ideas in their own right, yet before we know it, we become discouraged and tired sometimes even giving up, we just don't get it. We might say something is missing. Well of course, the wind, that is what's missing, the breath of God, the Holy Spirit. Without faith it is impossible to please God “Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

through our faith we allow his spirit to take control of us. “ 1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, (Or the love of God, His spirit) I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” Or just a hollow kite without the wind.

The efforts we put into our relationship with God is sometimes just that, our efforts. “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord” Isaiah 40:31. Sometimes we need to be still and know that he is God psalms 46:10. Wait for the wind, it will come.” Act 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.” “Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The promise of Jesus Christ had come to them as He had said.

We should never get discouraged yet continue to pray and wait. As you do continue in study and prayer, go into this with an understanding that it is by the spirit of God and not of our own works we can do these things. “ Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Don't run out of breath trying to fly, let the spirit, the breath of God take you and then you will fly higher than you could have ever imagined. I may have left you wondering “well How do I get there? There are no secret words to recite, no magic potion, rather it's the idea of coming into an intimate relationship with God. Without that relationship we are just doing it on our own. As I in my youth did struggle, become frustrated and discouraged with the kite, we Christians can also experience the same feelings when we try to do it on our own. “Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Continue going to church, I never said that was a bad thing. Continue reading your bible, I never said that was a bad thing either, but now go through these practices open minded. look for God's direction, waiting on His spirit to change you. The more you push at something or try to force it the harder it becomes to receive that movement.

What I am saying is that sometimes we just need to allow things to happen. God's peace, His spirit will overflow in us beyond what we can ever think hope for or imagine. When the Holy Spirit becomes part of us it will be an experience we will understand and want two speak of and contemplate all the time. This will be like turning on a switch to a light. In summary, trust in God, seek him with your heart, with your whole heart and you will find him. Press into a relationship With God not as a master servant relationship, but a loving happy learning experience through the spirit of God. Never give up, never be discouraged, wait upon the Lord and you will be strengthened as the Eagles.

God Never Fails……