My dog came home from leg surgery with purple stitches. His vet graduated from Kansas State and is a huge Wildcats fan. K-State fever, thanks in no small part to the university's agricultural extension offices here in the post rock district, has painted the area purple. The Wildcats logo appears on limestone house markers, tees, caps, pens, notepads, hand sanitizer, cars, and barns. There are K-State test wheat fields in the area. The purple spirit is everywhere.

College and high school sports rule in this rural country. If it isn't the K-State/KU rivalry with a dash of Huskers mixed in then it's high school sports. Everyone gets into the hometown spirit in these parts. Towns mark the streets for homecoming with giant paws leading to the football fields.

And local businesses get into the act with fun messages in support of the local team painted in the windows. Messages like "We See A Victory" in the window of the optometrist and "Invest in a Win" at the accountant's office. I think it must matter to these local youth to see so much enthusiastic support. These kids train hard and play hard. It's always nice to know you're being cheered on.

It's a little weird but thinking about the hometown spirit got me to thinking about the holy spirit.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26

I don't think I begin to grasp how marvelous it is to be prayed for by the holy spirit at such a fundamental and deep level that it is beyond language. The holy spirit. The Holy Spirit roots for me to grow and to thrive. Me. I'm being cheered and loved at every step of the way. Even the fumbling steps. It's like the holy spirit paints signs to guide my way. Or writes messages to me. If I'm willing to seek and to listen. What's more amazing is the holy spirit is everyone's hometown.