Circles of the Spirit

Happy Pentecost!

Pentecost is a celebration of many things, but for me, I think it is mainly a celebration of universality; it is about the possibility for all to experience the touch of a loving God: a God who reaches out to those on the edge, who unlocks doors of fear and hesitation, who breaks down walls of hatred and division, who overturns the tables of our preconceptions, who challenges power and authority used to oppress, who stands against exclusivity to preach an inclusive message of love.

The giving of the Spirit, the dwelling of God in human hearts, calls all of us to live out that same universality of reaching out a touch of love to those on the margins. Pentecost is a time to remind ourselves that our call is not to build walls that exclude, but to draw circles which include: and if there are people who seem a long way away from our experience, our world view, our comfort zone, then the call is not to hide in the upper room, but to make our circles wider.

Circles of the Spirit

Fragile

Yet indestructible

Circles

Painted with the tender brush strokes

Of love

Reaching out

Drawing close

Dwelling within

Circles

Of community not conformity

Drawing in

To circles

Of flickering light

And the spirit dances

Within our doubt

Inviting

All are welcome

To step inside

To warm frozen toes

By a fire of love

A fire lit

From thorns that pierce

And the crumpled, tattered papers

Of the trials of life

But for those who don’t

Or can’t or won’t

Stretch out your hand

And draw

A larger circle

With broader brush strokes

Drawing in

Even him.