When the Wind Blows

The flags are standing at attention today! The north wind has them stretched stiffly straight in the winter blast. Once in a while it seems their commander, the wind, backs off a little and says, “At ease,” as they flutter gently between gusts. Then a “Parade, rest!” might be given and they lean limply back against their poles. Sometimes the wind does an “About Face” and the flags reverse their direction in quick compliance. I guess that happened overnight, when our warm southern breezes changed to northerly before daybreak, dropping temperatures to the teens, a sharp contrast to the near-70 degree temps of yesterday.

I love seeing the cheery red, white, and blue of flags around town, especially when it is windy. There is at least one flag over a place of business at an industrial park here that must measure at least 20 or 30 feet. It is glorious to see it unfurled and billowing in the wind in graceful, undulating waves.

The Boulevard, a principal street in Picayune, Mississippi, where we lived so long, has a colonnade of flags along either side of its length that is awe inspiring, especially when they fly on patriotic days throughout the year. The first view of the little town of Jonesborough, Tennessee, takes your breath away with the backdrop of flags fluttering along the main street contrasted against the historic red-brick, white-trimmed buildings.

In the Bible, flags were called banners, usually erected on standards to signify the different tribes of Israel and Judah. In the book of Solomon, the Shulamite girl says of her beloved, “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love,” Song of Solomon 2:4.

Flags are symbols. Our American flag gives rise to feelings of patriotism and national pride when we see it. In England, the royal flag was traditionally flown over the queen’s residence only when she was at home. The words to a popular Christian chorus echo this tradition in the words, “Joy is a flag flown high o’er the castle of my heart, for the King is in residence there.” May we all say that of the King who is above any military commander, and Whose orders we follow with joy, for His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.