Listen

When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Acts 2:1-4

Think

That first Pentecost was wild! First, a crazy storm and then tongues of fire on heads. One could not ignore, diminish, or dismiss the presence of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Yet, day to day, that’s not our experience of the Holy Spirit. We don’t regularly experience Holy Spirit storms, fire that doesn’t burn, or suddenly understand multiple languages.

We often see the Holy Spirit at work in hindsight. The Holy Spirit shows up subtly, as a whisper. Perhaps a person comes to your mind or heart. Or, maybe you’ve had a change of heart or deeper understanding about something. That’s often our experience of the Holy Spirit at work. These more “ordinary” experiences are no less powerful than what was experienced on the day of Pentecost in Acts. The Holy Spirit is at work, within and around us. Just like those early believers, we have the chance to join in and be amazed by that work.

Susan Sytsma Bratt

Question to Ponder:

When has the Holy Spirit moved and stirred something new in your life?

Pray

Startle me, O God, with your truth and open my heart and mind today so that hearing your word I might believe and believing, trust you with my life, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

Prayer adapted from Rev. Dr. John Buchanan, pastor emeritus at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago

Go

God, give us eyes to see the wideness of your world, shimmering with beauty and holiness.

Stimulate our imaginations, infusing us with courage and hope.

Surround us with friendship.

Plant us as seeds of resurrection.

Amen.

Peterson Center for Christian Imagination