Good Friday: Cubans Observe Good Friday Today

How wonderful to hear that the Cuban government, in a gesture of good will, has granted Pope Benedict's recent request to allow Cubans to observe Good Friday.  This from the BBC --

Communist Cuba marks Good Friday with public holiday

Communist Cuba is marking Easter with a public holiday on Good Friday, for the first time in decades.

This follows Pope Benedict's visit to the country last week, where he requested the move.
Religious holidays in Cuba were cancelled after the 1959 revolution, and fewer than 10% of Cubans are practising Catholics.

Nonetheless, the Church is the most influential organisation outside the Communist government.
The Cuban government said it granted the request as a mark of respect, and to commemorate the "transcendental nature" of the pope's visit.

Live service
 
The Pope's predecessor, John Paul II, made a similar request during the last papal visit to Cuba in 1998, successfully persuading then-leader Fidel Castro to recognise Christmas as a public holiday.
A service at Havana Cathedral will be broadcast live on Cuban television, indicating the improving relations between the Church and the government, says BBC Havana correspondent Sarah Rainsford.
Religious or not, Cubans have welcomed the day off, and hope that the change will be permanent, our correspondent says.

Some described it as a sign that Cuba was opening up to the world.

"I think almost all Cubans think it's a very good idea," one told the BBC.

The holiday has only been declared for this year, but the government says it will take a decision later on whether to make it permanent.

Let us be sure to include Cuba this day in our Good Friday prayers ... that the Holy Spirit would continue His work among the Cuban people and government.  "Lord, we thank you for your work in Cuba among Your children.  Continue to bless the faithful with courage and devotion.  Stir up a wind of true liberation, creating new believers and freeing them from the shackles of atheism, communism, and/or paganism.  We thank and praise You for the ongoing redemptive work wrought through the sacrifice of your precious Son, and it is in His name we ask these things.  Amen!"

The Wind Bloweth Where It Listeth

As I leave the church and cross the parking lot, I feel the wind of the coming spring blow about me, weaving and slithering around my head, blowing my hair in odd angles and formations, making my hair look and feel like a doll's.  The wind encircles my body, too, swirling about my arms and legs, pulling my sleeves and pants legs about as if I were swimming in water. 

The sensation brings to mind a warm summer day years ago, standing on a boat dock on a lake.  It was one of those rare moments when I took the time to slow down, look about and observe the beauty of this world, and drink in with all of my senses Life.  I watched as the wind created swirls on the water's surface -- the only visible evidence of the wind's presence.  I recall ...

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  (John 3:8)

The power of wind: think of what Man can do when he harnesses the power of the wind -- windmills to generate power, kites and planes to entertain and transport him, he can sail ships across lakes and oceans.  Think what we can do when we harness the Wind.

The wind blowing through the trees -- one of Life's most beautiful sounds.  The gentle rustling is calming, and yet in a storm, the furious creaking and buzzing of trees is alarming. 

Do we ignore God's voice when He "creaks and buzzes" in warning in our ear? 

Do we even notice when the Wind calmly "rustles" in our ear, whispering peace?

Think of those stormy days of incredible wind, when walking against it is difficult.  How many times have we willfully pushed against the Wind, wanting to go our own way and against God's? 

I smile to recall an old joke about the man from notoriously windy Oklahoma who got on a train and went to Texas.  After arriving at his destination in less breezy Texas, people around him marveled as they watched the Oklahoman occasionally fall down. 

"What's with him?", asked one man.  "Is he drunk?"

"No," replied his friend.  "He's from Oklahoma.  He's used to always leaning into the wind.  Here without the wind, he keeps losing his balance and falling down."

Lame, I know, but think about how the Wind supports us.  If we are used to having the Wind to lean against, we take solace in the Wind's support.  Without the Wind we, in contrast, repeatedly fall down.  We can't stand alone without the Wind's support.

Perhaps the Wind blows harder than at other times in our life, making our journey more difficult.  But, perhaps the Wind is directing our steps to keep us out of serious trouble.  Without the Wind, we lose our way, stumble and fall.

Wind is beautiful.  Some women complain that it "ruins their hair."  I've never worried about that.  I love the sensation of the wind blowing across my face and wreaking havoc with my "do."  I imagine the Wind being God's Hand brushing my cheek, playfully tousling my hair, tickling my ear with His Word, pushing, leading and accompanying me in different directions.