The Helper Who Softens Life’s Falls
If you have read Gleanings for any length of time, you know that I have tried parachuting a couple of times. The last time I tried, I collided with a gopher hole on landing and broke one of my legs. I haven’t done it since, but I still get an adrenaline rush when I see skydivers.
The concept of a parachute is older than you probably think, dating back to Leonardo da Vinci, who seemed to have borrowed the idea from someone else. He had sketches of a rigid-frame device.
According to the Saturday Evening Post,
“The first “modern” soft parachute, as well as the name for it, came from the work of Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard. Blanchard was obsessed with air travel. Not only did he invent the first soft, silk parachute, but he was also the first person to cross the English Channel by air … in a hot-air balloon. He was also the first person to successfully use his soft parachute during an emergency. According to him, at least: He claims that he used a parachute to escape an exploding hot air balloon, but no one else was around to verify it… Blanchard is credited with coining the word parachute in 1784, and his supposed emergency use of it was in 1793.”
The word para – originates in Latin and means to prevent. The word chute stems from a French word meaning to fall. A parachute prevents or softens a fall.
A similar word in Greek is also para, but it means to come alongside.
The Greek combines para (alongside) and the word kaleó (to call) – paraclete. The paraclete is the one who comes alongside to comfort, help, advocate and more.
Like a parachute helps control the falling skydiver, the paraclete is given to help us. Jesus promises we will have this helper.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you John 14:15-17 ESV
The Holy Spirit is the Paraclete. He indwells believers to advocate for us, comfort us, guide us, teach us, intercede on our behalf, and so much more.
If you are tired, overwhelmed, lonely or in distress, you don’t stand alone. The promised Paraclete lives within you to help carry you through, soften life’s falls, and protect you.
What a blessing.
Kevin
SUMMARY
The Holy Spirit is the Paraclete, the Helper Jesus promised, who comes alongside us. If we are tired, overwhelmed, lonely or in distress, we don’t stand alone.
TAKEAWAY
Like a parachute helps control a falling skydiver, the Paraclete is given to help you.
The Holy Spirit is the Helper Jesus promised. He indwells believers to advocate for you, comfort you, guide you, teach you, and intercede on your behalf.
If you are tired, overwhelmed, lonely or in distress, you don’t stand alone. The Paraclete lives within you to help carry you through, soften life’s falls, and protect you.