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Hit and Miss

A while ago, I went to a community event which celebrated the labours of the pioneers in settling and developing the area. Among the displays, I saw an odd looking engine connected by a wide drive belt to an old washing machine.

I paused to observe it and noticed that it was the epitome of simplicity. A small gas tank, an elementary single-piston engine, an outsized flywheel and a small drive wheel was all there was to it. The engine’s owner approached me and described how this kind of “hit and miss engine” works.

Using the barest minimum of fuel, it can run for hours on a few cups of gasoline. The secret of this is the big flywheel. Once it is spinning, its momentum keeps the engine running. When it slows down to a certain point, a spark is delivered to the cylinder. It then fires giving the flywheel another little shot of energy, making it spin faster. When it slows down again, the process repeats producing the characteristic bang, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, bang whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, bang sound.

When the engine is attached to an appliance like a butter churn, cream separator, or washing machine, the additional load causes the flywheel to slow down more quickly, leading to more frequent sparking, thus providing the power necessary to do the work. All of the potential of the engine is continually present, but only the power needed for the work is drawn from the system. I won’t go into more details here, but something about this struck me as metaphorical of our spiritual life.

Christians enjoy the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit constantly in their lives. He provides the spiritual power to conform us to the likeness of Jesus and to serve God. When we are engaged in these activities, the release of His energy in our lives keeps our spiritual flywheel spinning, allowing us to make progress.

When we disengage from fulfilling God’s purposes, becoming distracted with the activities on our own agenda, He doesn’t leave us, but the flow of His power stops. Our lives coast along as the flywheel spins ever more slowly. When we finally recognise the situation and begin to engage in those activities which require the Spirit’s power, the spiritual spark ignites, releasing the energy to accomplish the spiritual work to which we are called.

Jesus promised his disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit had come upon them. (See Acts 1:8) Paul wrote to his Roman friends: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Ron Hughes
© February 2009