Friday, May 09, 2008

Friday Five: Gifts of the Spirit


Presbyterian Gal brings us a Pentecost themed Friday Five with the following questions:
Have you or anyone you know
1. ...ever experienced a prophesy (vision or dream) that came true? I had a person say something to me this weekend that felt prophetic. I pray that I have the vision (and courage) it takes to make it be true.

2. ...dreamed of a stranger, then actually met them later? I used to have "things happen" a lot when I was younger, the feeling that I'd known someone before, a sense of "I dreamed this." I think as I got older I may have closed myself off to some of those kind of things, stopped noticing or acknowledging them thinking it was not "theologically in sync" with being a modern sophisticated Christian or something. But I am claiming my mystical self again these days, so maybe these experiences will rise again as well.

3. ...seen a wonder in heaven? (including UFO's) I see wonders in the heavens all the time....amazing cloud formations in this beautiful big unencumbered prairie sky, the absolutely incredible amount of stars that can be seen when there is no urban light pollution, meteor showers, rainbows, sunrises and sunsets. A recent one that almost knocked me over was just this week at our clergy conference....the chapel in which we were holding our opening Eucharist has windows behind the altar to the west and overlooking the lake. The Gospel was being read just as the sun was setting. It was pretty wondrous.

4. ...seen a "sign" on the earth? First there is black bare earth, then tiny shoots, then endless waving green fields, then harvest. It happens again and again and again....not fire and brimstone, but hope and new life....that's where I'm seeing God!

5. ...experienced knowledge of another language without ever having studied it? Spoken languages have had to be learned the usual way. I'd like to think that of late I am learning the language of God's amazing love through lived experience as I become more able to see and accept that love as it pours on me daily in so many ways.

Bonus Question: What would a modern day news coverage of the first Pentecost have sounded like? Let me just say that I think that the newscasters would fail to capture the Spirit of the event.

9 comments:

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

OH, I LOVED your answers. I am smiling! We so need to see the wonderful hand of the divine in "everyday" things.

imngrace said...

"reclaiming my mystical self" Yup. I hear you on that one! Great play.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

I love the photo and the thought that you gave to your answers, . . . and I love the dry irony of your last comment about the press.

leah said...

oh, I especially love your #3! All of them, actually--and thanks for visiting my blog!

RevAnne said...

Thanks for your answers and the "everyday"ness of where you see God. Sometimes I think we forget.

Lori said...

I loved your answers too. The "language of God"...now there's the best gift of the spirit.

Jan said...

I especially liked your dry wit in the bonus question. I've often wondered if we'd truly recognize Jesus Christ if he returned. . . .

Diane M. Roth said...

spring is indeed here! finally! thanks for a great play!

Rev SS said...

Yes, I agree, great answers, all.