The Presence
Today was Pentecost Sunday: A celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit. People have sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit in many different ways, at many different times. The Sermon on the Mount would suggest we sense God the most when we are at our weakest. My experience tells me there is truth in this.
I don’t know why we sense God the most when we are broken open. Perhaps our hearts can sense The Presence more clearly when there is less stuff in the way. Becoming aware of one’s human frailty is humbling. The world will always be a show of shiny distractions but when we are broken, we realize the illusory nature of the shiny things.
Eastern philosophy would suggest that this world is an illusion, a Maya, a maze. There does seem to be some truth to that. But, God also speaks through (and leads us through) this world. I don’t doubt the Presence of the Divine in nature. I feel that God reveals Himself through nature.
In a very personal way, God shows me that I am not walking through this world alone. He shows me that there is a greater intelligence, a deeper love, and a powerful peacemaker. There is more than the superficial world of ego against ego. There is more than mere survival.
It is often the times when I am struggling the most that I’ve seen God’s Presence in a way that feels vivid and compelling. Here are three experiences where I feel God has used nature, places, and moments to comfort me and show me He is with me in this life:
(1). When I was a child and didn’t want to move to Florida, God brought me to a place where Anastasia Island was part of my hometown. I live here still. The hint of familiarity in the name has always felt like a special gift.
(2). When I was feeling absolutely heartbroken last year, taking a walk, listening to music, and crying, I saw a tiny little piece of what looked like confetti on the back of my phone. I touched it with my index finger and lifted it up. It was a tiny little “A”! It was so small- it looked like something you would put underneath a microscope when learning to use one. On most days I would have zoomed right by that tiny little scrap of paper. But on this day, I saw it clearly and it stopped me in my tracks. It was like God was saying, “Hey! A. What are you crying for? Hello! I’m here. I see you. I’ve got you.”
(3). A couple of weekends ago when it felt like I was being attacked in my health, in a professional situation, and just in general, I went outside, looked up, and saw an “A” shape made by some twigs, high up on the tree in my front yard. Again, I was just taken by the momentary glimpse of an amazing coincidence. It was like a “hello” from one intelligence to another. Like a half-time show between the melodrama of human life stuff.
These experiences can be thought of as mere coincidences but, I don’t think of them this way. I feel these experiences are examples of God’s love for me. Gestures of kindness. Greetings. Hugs.
Are these the actions of the Holy Spirit? I don’t know if it’s the same thing described in the Bible and by the church. All I can say is that these moments feel sacred and I recall them when I’m feeling alone, scared, or troubled.
God cares enough to use the little things of this world to remind me that He’s here, walking with me. I can’t help but be grateful, awed, and encouraged. I’m beloved by God.
There is so much I do not understand. But that’s okay. I don’t need to.
I just need to trust in Him and keep walking. That is all.
