At our May Theology Pub, we discussed experiences with the Holy Spirit. Have you had one? Would you name experiences you’ve had in that language? Is it hard to explain or talk about? Or do you just wonder about the Spirit?
The Spirit part of the Trinity is often hard to explain. As I’ve shared before, when I read the book, The Shack by Wm. Paul Young, I was taken by the image of the Holy Spirit carrying a vial to collect our tears. “She loves to collect tears,” Young writes.
Another image that sticks with me is from Romans 8, where the apostle reminds us that the Spirit “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” That’s of great comfort to me when I’m praying for others especially. As a human being, I don’t always have the words, and the Spirit groans for me at those moments. It’s raw and deep and real.
Pentecost, this season we are now entering, is another experience with the Holy Spirit; however, its focus is less individual and more corporate. The Spirit came over the whole assembly, they spoke in languages they hadn’t known before, and they spread the Word of God exponentially after that experience.
While attending the scholarship awards ceremony at Vashon High School, I heard languages that were new to me, languages about compassion being expressed in new ways. I heard young people speak about a care for the planet that was not part of my vocabulary when I was their age. I heard the expressions of the hearts of young adults that honestly give me hope for our future.
As a congregation, I believe we have that same ability to listen to the Spirit’s leadership and hear and learn in new ways. The Spirit has not changed, God’s intention for the world is still to live in harmony with God and one another.
The Good News of Jesus’ life is still as relevant and important as ever and we are those now gathered together. Will we allow the Spirit to ignite us to listen? To speak? To spread the Word of God?
Pentecost is not just something that happened long ago, but something into which we are invited today. It gives me chills to think of what God might call from us, what God might want from us. Are you open to it? Will you embrace it? Those are the questions of this season. The Spirit of God is at work in the world, that’s a given! How we respond is the real work of being the church today.
As the Spirit blows through our gatherings, I pray we jump on board with excitement, looking toward the unknown future with the known God. The best is yet to come!
Grace and Peace,
Leigh
