What can you offer?

By Barbara Miller
RR Ministerial

I don’t know about you, but it seems particularly windy to me these days; and I am not sure why, but lately when its windy like this, images of the Holy Spirit keep coming to my mind.
Maybe it’s because this Sunday is Pentecost Sunday ˆ a day that many Churches identify as the Church’s birthday. It’s the day that the Holy Spirit descended on Peter and the disciples filling them with joy and power, enabling them to preach so that all may understand them ˆ whatever their language - preaching so eloquently that many are amazed and many are baptized that day. The detailed story can be found in the Book of Acts chapter 2.
In this story, as in many instances throughout the Bible, the Holy Spirit manifests itself as wind here, in particular it says “and suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of violent wind” (Acts 2.2). It seems to me that we don’t often think of the Holy Spirit as coming to us in the form of a „“violent wind” It is safer and more comfortable, it seems to me, to identify rather with that nice, gentle Spirit that appears at Jesus‚ baptism, the one that is “descending like a dove” (Mark 1.10). That perception of the Holy Spirit implies that to live and work within God’s will for us makes life gentler, more peaceful, easier. But does it? Does it really? Remember, it was the Holy Spirit that also “drove (Jesus) out into the wilderness.” (Mark 1.12)
Pastor Mark’s last article talked about the courage that is need for change and how one person can make a difference. I believe that this is very true, and that Mark’s words were very timely for the folk of Rainy River to be reading.
One person with passion and courage can make a difference. But it requires dedication, sacrifice and openness. We have to be ready and willing to embrace the change. We have to be bold, to be visionary, and be ready to work. I think we are.
I attended one of the Strategic Planning Meetings that the Town Council held and was impressed by the hard work and dedication that has been shown by this committee, by their passion and their vision. Much work has been done, much more remains to do. While I prefer not to delve into politics, I believe that this is important work for the town of Rainy River, and I would invite you to remember the committee and its efforts in your prayers and to think about the gifts that you have to offer for the life and work of Rainy River and its people. Yes, the Holy Spirit has been made manifest in the softly rustling wings of a dove it has also been made manifest in the rush of a violent wind.
We aren’t always ready for the Spirit and the changes that it may bring, but with courage and passion we can try. Come, Holy Spirit, come, bringing new life and new hope to us as individuals and as a community.