8 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
Jesus compares the Holy Spirit to the wind. [Indeed, they are the identical word in Greek.] The wind is independent of us. It “blows wherever it pleases.” You cannot see its source or destination – but you can hear it.
In my part of the world grows a tree known as the trembling aspen. With the least slightest breeze its leaves shake and tremble. Nearby are other trees that bend and sway only with the stronger gusts. The pines make a swishing noise.
Is there a right or a wrong way for a tree to respond to the wind? Surely not! Nor should we expect a right or wrong emotional response to the Spirit living within. Some will be settled, some excited and some will respond in surprising ways.
We take it as a given that the Holy Spirit distributes his varied gifts as he will. Perhaps we should also take it as a given that our responses to him will be as varied as the personalities he has given us. Only God knows what our response could or should be.
[And I don’t think I am pushing Jesus’ analogy too far.]
– SSXG