PENTECOST 2019
There’s a white mist on the mountain.
The sky is white and dense – no greys, no emerging blue, no promise of pink.
There is no wind, just the occasional flutter.
All is quiet; eerily, still.
 
Yesterday, the sky was deep blue, cloudless.
A gentle breeze brought fresh air and relief.
Sunlight and shadows created flickering patches
against the browns and greens of the fields, and orange rooftops.
Little birds flew from fence post to branches of trees, eyeing their next meal.
Huge, solitary ones, circled above, swooping down every-so-often,
targeting their prey with precision.
In the distance, rushing water from a cascading fall could be heard.
But now, there is silence. An ominous silence pervades.
How quickly everything changes!
Out-of the-blue, the unexpected arrives – we rarely see it coming!
 
Oh, where is the light?! When will the misty veil lift?
Where is the Son’s brightness, lighting up the landscape?
Where are the happy tunes of chirping birds, crickets and cicadas?
And of a gentle wind blowing through the leaves?
Bring us back to life, Life!
 
Hours have now passed and still the whiteness covers the land.
Birds can be heard; interspersed with a distant hum of occasional traffic.
The stillness lingers. But light is breaking through -
the sky is dense but, beyond, its soft glow tries to push against the veil.
We watch. We wait. And come, it will.
 
Holy Spirit, penetrate our spirits with life!
Stir Your wind in our tangled lives and straighten us out.
Blow away the cobwebs of fear and despair.
Light us up with energy for living, a zest for You and a passion for the truth;
remove the darkness of denial, selfishness, greed and unforgiveness.
 
Let Your Son beams of love and healing transform us and renew us.
Free us to know You, to follow You, to love You -
in freedom, joy, peace, kindness, wisdom, piety, fortitude,
faith, patience, goodness, mercy and purity.
Come Holy Spirit, come in this Pentecost 2019!
Thank You. Praise You. Bless You. Amen.
 
Julie Hughes © France 2019