Wednesday, December 02, 2020
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Galatians 5:22
Recently the daughter of a nursing facility resident shared with me her pain of not being able to visit her aging mother. In sharing my thoughts and feelings, I revisited my own concept of the Holy Trinity.
In a very simplistic picture, I believe we often see God as creator, omnipotent, and “up there” somewhere. Jesus, His Son, came to live with us as a fellow brother. After Jesus’s resurrection, “seated at the right hand of God” sometimes implies an “awayness” that can leave us mere mortals feeling left behind from the spiritual entities.
I suggested to the daughter that this is the time to believe in and trust in the Holy Spirit. “Your mother is not alone,” I said. “She is surrounded, embraced, and uplifted by the Holy Spirit. And, within the Holy Spirit, God is present. Jesus is present. And, you are present.”
Although we cannot see the Holy Spirit in the way the disciples saw Jesus, it is as real as the wind, as moving as a song, and as connected as a kiss.
I am always moved by the gifts of nature. The crisp morning air that startles my breath, an umbrella like tree that cools my path, and the Crayola crayon box of autumn’s dress that delights my eyes are, for me, the Holy Spirit in nature’s showroom. And now, that discovery is part of the treasure God has available to us. That same spirit is found equally in art and music, friendship and kinship, bread and wine.
The scriptures tell us we walk by faith and not by sight. The “invisible” nature of the Holy Spirit is not something to test our faith --- but something to complete it.
Is this spirit enough to soothe a troubled mind? Enough to heal a broken heart?
Each part of the Trinity is an equal part–each with its own unique timing, movement, and balance. The Trinity is always enough, and I am blessed that it is near me. Always.
Dear God, Thank you for the manifestation of the Holy Trinity. While I understand little of it, I need every part of it, for it is all wrapped in love and light. Amen
William Bolick
