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Feature

The Windmill

By Tanja Dufrene

I had traveled this road countless times before. One of those long, lonely Texas farm roads laced with the occasional freshly plowed field or lowing cattle. The wind beat down on the car, whipping around with the sounds of an old ghost town, complete with tumbleweed crossing the road in front of me.

This was no new scene to me. Over the past 12 years this road was often traveled in my business, family and personal pursuits. Yet, for some reason, today’s drive was… different.

Time often seems to stand still as the miles pass through the curves and small hills are met on this journey. But today, for the very first time, I saw it. There it was standing tall and majestic, as if a testament from days long ago forgotten. Its tower stood reaching high and strong—its vane unmoving.

I could imagine what the windmill used to be—a stately, well-oiled machine that yielded freely to the slightest wind. Yet what I beheld today was nothing more than a broken, unmoving tower of rusting metal—the blades and wheel no doubt long lost.

As my voyage continued down this sleepy forgotten road, another windmill graced the horizon. The distance between us quickly closed and my eyes fell on yet another fine piece of machinery whose grandiose movement with the wind also appeared a thing of the past. Its blades and wheel remained, yet obviously unable to move with the passing wind.

Just as softly as the wind, the Holy Spirit began to speak to my soul. He reminded me of Acts 2 when the Day of Pentecost empowered everyday people to fulfill the purposes of a loving God. As my heart welled, I could see the parallel of man and the windmill.

My mind began to race while my heart filled with sadness. How many broken men like the windmills in my view no longer yielded to the movement of His leading? And why?

Did the windmills, like men, simply work and toil without maintenance—in essence wearing themselves out until there was no more oil to free their moving parts? Do we move with His wind yet fail to maintain the oil of His anointing found in personal devotion?

The miles were passing more quickly now. The winding, seemingly barren road now was energizing to me. I was on a quest, searching, hunting, praying, “Is there not one windmill still standing tall and strong? One that responds to this wind You’re blowing?”

I examined myself. What condition will His wind find in my soul? I want to yield and move with His Spirit—working, moving and fulfilling the purpose for which I’ve been made.

When it felt as though my heart would burst, finally, there it was—standing in the distance—twirling and humming a song only He knew. Standing tall and yielded, one lonely windmill. It was weathered and aged yet full of power and energy, fulfilling its purpose and moving with the wind.

My heart again turned to prayer, but with more joy this time. A simple tower of metal flowing with the wind caused my heart to rejoice because the parallel of my soul determined to move with His wind. I began to recognize the need to maintain that fresh oil of anointing found only in such a quiet place with Him.

Many days have passed since my travels on that lonely, lost road. Yet I find myself still pondering the windmill. I saw many that day, but only one fulfilling the reason of its design. My soul cries out that many be restored. Small or great, may we all find ourselves well oiled and moving with His breath, fulfilling His purpose through us.

TANJA DUFRENE studied at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX, and is a licensed minister.  She has spent the last 25 years serving alongside her husband in ministry as worship leader and youth sponsor, among other things. She is currently serving as leader of the women’s group at Lakeside Assemblies of God in Oklahoma City.