In these uncertain times, it’s comforting to think of the Spirit as Great Surpriser, or Master of the Unexpected. When we least anticipate her, the Holy Ghost visits our work tables and emotional perches, offering the welcome grace of sudden rescue, motivation or inspiration. A wonderful feature of Trinitarian theology, this view of the Spirit’s role can foster both hope and gratitude.
But what if the wind of the Spirit—*one ruach identity—could also be evident in other ways? What if the Holy Ghost also worked within advanced preparation, careful analysis or scenario-building? What if her efforts were as ordinary as a committee meeting or an orderly planning process? Could that be as comforting and delightful as the wonders of unforeseen insight, creative genius or small group processes?
How might our understanding of God be limited if what we relied on—what we praised and thanked the Spirit for—was only creating amazing outcomes? If the Trinity’s Third Person was valuable only for the ability to create something out of nothing—especially when we ran out of possibilities? What if the Apostles Creed had noted only the high-stakes liberations that she engenders? (As though “calls, gathers, enlightens and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth” was too normal, too mundane to be noticed? As though “abundantly forgiving all sins” was ordinary?)
Chasing my own conjecture, it seems injurious to the Spirit’s power to relegate her only to Emergency Squad Captain, ignoring her day-to-day, shoulder-to-the-wheel work. It feels short-sighted to overlook the Spirit’s dependable, behind-the-scenes and difficult background tasks necessary for our renewal, release, or repentance.
And yes, I certainly could be uncomfortably wrong…..
*In Hebrew, ruach (roo-ack) means wind, breath or spirit. “Wisdom” loosely connected.
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