Yesterday, in the Catholic Church, we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost; the beautiful pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. Filled with fear and the unknown, the apostles waited as instructed by Jesus at his Ascension.
While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father." Acts 1:4
Waiting – I don’t know about you, but waiting is always a hard season. We are left to sit with our thoughts and the crumbling brokenness that entagles us inside. Like the season of autumn, we watch the brilliance of color and life fade and weaken until we are left with it’s emptiness. I’m reminded of the saddness that accompanies us upon the loss of a beloved friend or family member.
Yet, we are not abandoned
God never leaves us alone in our waiting. As with the leaves of autumn, Jesus went away so that the Spirit would come to each and every one of us. Sometimes we have to be left on our own to discover the uniqueness and strength that is ours. There is a power in our waiting and we were promised instruction AND power! Instruction to remember, listen, and learn THEN power and boldness, through the Holy Spirit, to share HIS LIFE in our words and actions.
We have a purpose, He has a plan! ~Cain, The Commission
We are a people of hope. That dormant season of waiting is where the seeds arewatered. The Spirit is stirring. With its power, comes the promise. With each new season we set our roots a little deeper and feel His presence a little more. God shifts our focus to experience His hand at work. From despair to hope. From fear to trust.
Go tell the world about me. I was dead but now I live. I have to go now for a little while. But goodbye is not the end of the journey.
Yes, I completely agree. I am waiting to improve after total knee replacement surgery, which is definitely a challenge. I have to continually tell myself that it is God’s timing and not mine. I am trying to explore this challenge as an opportunity and not a problem. What is God trying to show me in these moments of pain, decreased movement and mobility? I have not been able to go to daily mass, but I am praying more, trusting in His will and mercy. I know He will have me back on my feet as soon as possible. To me, this is what faith is all about.