This week we’ve just celebrated Pentecost! And rather than have some big party with balloons, confetti, flags, kites, cakes, etc., the parishes I serve celebrated with – none of that. We celebrated in our normal, calmer states.
Our celebration was calm and normal, because I believe that God is speaking to us ‘normal’ folks just as much as God is speaking to folks who have the confetti and fireworks and all that jazz. I believe that God speaks to us in the everyday. In the unremarkable. Making things become remarkable – if only we have the eyes to see them.
And that’s where our faith comes in. We can see that the Spirit is moving, is present and active, because we believe. We don’t believe in coincidences –we believe that God is actively participating in the world to demonstrate what’s possible.
And what is possible? Well, anything. The sky’s the limit. God’s grace and love will be shared among all of us so long as we believe. So long as we want to receive it. So long as we are able to recognise it when it’s shown to us.
It can be a challenge to see when we’re having that action of the Spirit being demonstrated to us – especially when the secular world doesn’t tend to share good news stories as often as we might like. But those good news stories are there, waiting to be found. Waiting to be shared.
Perhaps the happiest story I heard this week was that of young Anthony Smith – here’s a link to his story.
This whole thing came to be because people cared – because the Spirit moved among everyone involved. Everyone who had their heart opened just a tiny bit… everyone had their minds opened just a tiny bit… everyone had the incentive and desire to do what they could – just their tiny bit – to make a difference.
I can hear the rush of wind encouraging them to take action; the tongues of flame inspiring them to do something about the situation. I see the power of God in this story. I see the movement of the Spirit in and through these people – these ordinary, average, normal people.
So I challenge all of us to search out these types of good news stories. These examples of an active and Spirit-led response to God’s promise. No matter how ordinary your life may seem, the Spirit is moving. The potential is there. So I challenge us to go into the world and be moved by the power of God, be inspired and invigorated and encouraged to make it a better place.
So let’s go in the ordinary world – delighting in the celebration of the Pentecost – delight in God’s power to make the ordinary extraordinary.
