Acts 2: 1-36

Gale force winds, Galileans speaking foreign languages, day drinking, the last days, blood red moons, prophesy from our sons and daughters, and old men dreaming dreams. Acts 2 begins with the Holy Spirit manifesting on the scene. The way the Holy Spirit is introduced, by Jesus, is simply awesome. Jesus says to the disciples, in their time of despair, you won’t know the Father’s time, you won’t have me with you, but you will have the Holy Spirit. Jesus clearly holds the Spirit in high regard. So much holy spirit here in Act 2…So much to doubt.

My faith and doubt compete like this:

Abstract/Spiritual = Doubt

Concrete/Tangible = Faith

I know I can’t separate the holy trinity, but never-the-less I rank them (in my faith to doubt meter 1 being most faith, 3 being most doubt)

Father – Creator, God, made the universe, land, sea, fish, animals, …yup, this makes sense.

Son – Walked on earth, cried, befriended the Samaritan woman, touched the leper, died…I got it.

Holy Spirit – Speak in tongues, end times, fire, smoke, black sun, the whole book of Revelation, 1976 movie, The Omen…WHAT??!!

I hope by the time I get to mentioning the movie, The Omen, you can see my sarcastic, hyperbolic humor has taken me beyond my point. The Holy Spirit is challenging to my faith, but I think it is my own fault. I think I let the Holy Spirit be both too tangible and too abstract.

I let the Holy Spirit be too tangible when I try to understand the writer’s descriptions of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. An amazing manifestation of the creation in a blood red moon, the good news, delivered strangely, spoken by foreign language speakers, or old man’s dreams having some meaning. Am I, in my doubt, over rationalizing my reading of Acts or could this be the Holy Spirit at work? Of course, we are inspired and moved by creation. Of course, God would use his people to communicate mighty works of unconditional love and grace. And of course, God might speak to us in our dreams.

I also let the Holy Spirt be too Abstract when I dismiss what moves me and what speaks to me. I crossed on our boat, into the Canadian Gulf Islands last night and saw some of the most awe-inspiring water, madrone trees, rock formations, and infrastructure. I saw creation. I listened to Lisa’s Dad describe his “ah ha” moment in understanding our son David. Perhaps, like listening to the words in a foreign language, it took some time for me to understand Lisa’s Dad, but then his words hit me as wonderful truth. In my baffled desperation 2-1/2 years ago, it occurred to me that our business might be better if we merged with a competitor. Maybe an old man’s dream? Is this me making my experiences more than they are by reading the Holy Spirit into them or could this be the Holy Spirit at work? Of course, we are inspired and moved by creation. Of course, God would use his people to communicate mighty works of unconditional love and grace. And of course, God might speak to us in our dreams.

I believe, whether we see too much Holy Spirit or if we don’t see enough Holy Spirit, in our doubt and in our faith, we can find comfort and peace in the words of David, quoted in Acts 2.

“I saw God before me for all time, nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side…

You’ve got my feet on the life-path, with your face shining sun-joy all around” “In the last days…”