It’s the Feast of Pentecost!
Makoto Fujimura, "January Hour - Pentecost"
I love this feast, not only for the terrific art through the centuries, the storytelling and imagery of it all….but for the entire concept of it. It’s truly one of the mysteries in life and yet, it’s one we get to walk through often as well.
What? Sound a bit crazy? Maybe…but I know and I bet you do too that you have had times when you were able to say something to a friend or family or someone that was totally the perfect thing to say, and you had NO idea you were going to say it. And right after those words slipped out, you kind of marveled at them. Did you really say that? Well…yeah. Wow. Good job and um, it wasn’t you. Right? I know that very thing has happened to me. Many more times than once. And used to be, I’d kind of sit there and think, “Wow, how clever am I and who’da thunk it“…..until it dawned on me (like a beam whacked across my forehead) that um, it wasn’t me after all. No way. Now, I know better. It’s NOT me. It’s the Holy Spirit and when it happens, I’ve basically just finally shut up long enough to give Him an edge, an opening. Really, I should do it more often. I know, I know.
I get to feel it in my parenting too. Not often enough of course cause I’m typically way too busy getting in the way with my controlling ideas. But, when I’ve been able to slow down and step aside, either through sheer exhaustion or sheer empty brain cells, then I’ve gotten the gift of seeing someone, something else at work. And I marvel. Because then sometimes if I quietly let that fire fall on me and through my arms I can bring my kids into the warm embrace of it – and we love and heal and grow. At least for a moment or two before I start slapping it out with my own schedule and commands and ideas; back to the buzz. But those moments, ah, they are gold. They really do kinda glow.
And that’s why I love this Feast. It reminds us that we can walk through falling fire. It doesn’t burn. It’s a little bit of magic in our world, but better. Because it’s grace.
Below is the song that I wake with, every feast of Pentecost. It’s my tune for the day.
Happy Feast of Pentecost!
Another Espresso, Please 