“…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)
I love this photo my friend snapped of me when I was unaware she was taking it. It was an overcast day (a stormy Memorial Day weekend in Cape May!) but the first time this year I’d been to the ocean, and I was moved to raise my hands to the sky, breathing in the salty sea air and thanking God for one of my favorite places on earth, the Atlantic Ocean beach. I look at this photo and see the footprints in the sand next to me and am reminded of the beautiful poem, “Footprints in the Sand,” which tells of two sets of footprints becoming one…and the author asking why, only to discover this is when the Lord carried them. It also reminds me of this season we find ourselves in now…Pentecost…and the journey to know, love and serve the Holy Spirit as the Advocate sent to us by Jesus. How? Well, I’m just getting started but already I’m excited!
How Can We Heed the Holy Spirit?
When Jesus sent His Holy Spirit upon the Apostles gathered in fear in the Upper Room, feeling abandoned by Him and not knowing what was next, they began to speak in all foreign tongues and started to preach, heal and drive out demons. In today’s modern language, that may look like broadcasting to the world (through the Internet, social media, radio, TV and films, podcasts and now AI)…helping those less fortunate or those who are sick (physically or emotionally) through our compassion and comfort and even with our gifts of money, time and acts of kindness…and praying for those who are spiritually sick, maybe even reaching out to alcoholics, addicts, those with mental illnesses, those who are getting divorced or are lonely, suicidal…the list goes on. WE are today’s apostles and disciples, it is OUR acts that matter today to God.
How Can We Know the Holy Spirit?
I have to admit the Holy Spirit is still a mystery to me when it comes to the Trinity…I understand the relationships between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and I know that God is three persons in one. Still, this mystery is baffling at times. I am listening to a podcast on the Hallow app called “Daily Holy Spirit,” which calls us to get closer to this member of the Trinity through prayer and meditation despite the fact He/She (also perplexing me still) is such a mystery. It truly is helping me feel closer to God and His Plan which I think is being revealed. And it’s also caused me to start looking back at moments in my life, especially recently, where I believe I have encountered Him/Her. (Still not sure about that one!)
How Can We “See” the Holy Spirit?
In 2023 I was in the Holy Land with my husband and a group of sixty other pilgrims and we were standing in a church I believe in Caparnaum (I can’t remember exactly the name or place of the church but I picture it clearly to this day…it was under construction and masons were working on the tile flooring. We still toured it, walking around the construction taking place, dust particles filling the air. I don’t know why, but I looked up to the vaulted ceiling over at a small arched window many feet up and saw a dove alight on the outside of the window. I stared a few minutes at it, thinking wow, it’s the Holy Spirit. Then I turned, my husband was off in the distance, and said to the pilgrim closest to me, “Hey, look up at that window at this dove.” Just as he looked up it flew away…but not before I snapped a photo. The bird was so far up it looked like a gray shadow of a bird in the picture. But I believe with all my heart now it was the Holy Spirit calling me to make the movie I’m about to make, Envious Son, based on the story of Cain and Abel. I had just been praying about it, asking God whether to make the movie or write my next book already underway. I heard “both.”
How Can We Experience the Holy Spirit
Also during that same Holy Land pilgrimage trip, we were standing on the rooftop of a building overlooking the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which marks and honors the places where Jesus died and was buried. Our musicians, both beautiful singers and one a guitarist, were leading us in song and we were asked to close our eyes and lift our hands and hearts to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving. I held my hands up to the sun, feeling its light and warmth, and truly felt the Holy Spirit enter me. I can’t explain it or prove it, but I also can’t deny it. I think if we can get to a place where we invite the Holy Spirit in, He/She will move in mysterious ways around, in and through us…perhaps with a rush of wind, as a sunburst, as a warm embrace, and yes, even as a dove.
Dear Holy Spirit, please help us to know, love and follow You more each day. Please fill us with your gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage, knowledge, reverence, wonder and awe. Amen.
