When the Holy Spirit speaks, history takes a lurch.

I read those words long ago in a class about "The Holy Spirit and the Church". We searched both scripture and the writings of the saints to learn about the manifestation of God's Spirit speaking and moving through human and church history.

Yep... individual and corporate lives...families, communities, congregations and nations get upended and overturned. Mary, Mother of God, sang about the dynamic overturning ... the poor are fed, the lowly lifted up, the mighty are cast from their thrones, the rich are sent away empty. Jesus proclaimed that the Word would separate and divide...that Truth would shake and rattle the foundation of the world and its societies.

Truth be told...everywhere I look or read or share in conversation, folks are aware that the church is being shaken up. Debates and disagreements over human sexuality, immigration issues, environmental concerns, financial policies hover around us, inviting us to implement action that reflects our stand on....whatever...

We are being observed by the "nations" that Christ commissioned us to teach in Matthew 28. If the people and places of those "nations" were asked to describe what they see when they look at us, what would they say? Would they see us as joy-full, hope-full, rooted in the Love of Christ as we move according to the discernment of the Word? Would they hear us proclaiming the Why of what we do (because the Light, Love and Life of Christ commissions and empowers us?) even when our actions challenge the dictates of the established "order?"

Hmmmmm.. I know I don't always get it right. I know the church doesn't always get it right. It is a constant ebb and flow between wisdom and folly. I give thanks to God for the opportunity given each day to "return to the Lord". These are weeks when I cling fervently to the promise ... that I am forgiven for the things I have done...or left undone. I cling to the hope of new life ... each day...

And in the mean time... I will strive on...looking for God's hand guiding me and God's love supporting me, through Jesus Christ.