Invitation to dance

 

John 3:8

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Spirit of God

Intriguing

Elusive

Capricious

Eternally present

Before the birth of time

Not an afterthought 

Not the latest iteration

But an integral part

of the eternal dance of the Trinity.

Creator

Redeemer 

Sustainer

She was there moving over the water

at the birth of time

she was there in the hopes and fears of a people

who longed for a Messiah

She was there in the garden

when the warmth of resurrection

rekindled love

All three woven together

moving in synchronicity

Sometimes to the mellow strains

of a slow waltz

Sometimes to the whirling upbeat

of a ceilidh dance

At times she takes the lead

selecting the beat

changing up the rhythm

And then she sets the stage for another

to be front and centre

For the dance cannot be accomplished

without all three parts participating 

in the divine choreography

And new parts are always being written

so that we, too, might participate 

even in our clod hoppers

by taking our place on the floor

and simply beginning to move

to that persistent beat

that draws us into the Divine dance

Witnesses

 Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Witnesses

You will be my witnesses

Not my gatekeepers

Or my lawmakers

Not my judges

Or my jury

Not my creed writers

or doctrine creators

Witnesses

Entrusted with good news

for all the world

Perhaps that was too vague an ask

too wide a remit

And so the tales of one

who walked on water

and cooked fish on the beach

The testimony of clearing the temple

and honouring a widow’s offering

The stories of blessing children

and being anointed by women

have been cleaned up and toned down

Like applying brasso to sanctuary vases

we’ve tried to apply a sheen 

instead of allowing the sheer earthiness

of everyday encounter 

of outrageousness

of audaciousness

and of righteous indignation and anger

to tell its own tale.

And, if we’ve toned Jesus down

we’re certainly not going to allow the spirit free rein.

She is even less predictable.

Even more prone to wreaking havoc

to turning solemn convention and propriety on its head.

So we’ve wrapped her up tightly in doctrine and in creed

in form and convention

lest  she encourage sedition.

Let’s loose the wrapping

Remove the shrouds

Stand well back

and allow the Spirit

to effect her miracles of love

in all the world today.

Witnesses

Out of sight

 Luke 24:50-51

The Ascension of Jesus

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.

40 days since resurrection

40 days since you encountered Mary in the garden

and told her - Do not hold on to me

40 days since you walked the road to Emmaus

and explained the Scriptures to grieving disciples

40 days since you snuck in to a locked room in the  evening 

and breathed peace into that space that was filled with regret

40 days in which you hung out with your friends

often at the beach

practising forgiveness

showing love

continuing to teach

restore 

and commission

Love one another

Feed my sheep

Go into all the world

I can’t help but wonder

if that 40 days

brought any more comprehension

or made letting go any easier

Or, whether, like a second pandemic lockdown

your followers were traumatised all over again

plunged into bewilderment

and despair

that all the “knowing it’s for the best”

still failed to diminish.

It’s hard to play the long game

when spirits are already worn out

tired of riding the roller coaster

of hope and disappointment 

It’s easier to dally on the beach

to stick with what we know

than follow you where you call

trusting that we will be enough

that you will be enough

for whatever comes next.