Holy Spirit Come!

Holy Spirit, Come!
Day of Pentecost; Acts 2:1-21
Holy Spirit, come
in storied metaphor
like rushing wind
that shakes the house
and tongues (or bush) of flame.

If I could choose your form 
when we connect, I’d say: 
“Please be embodied as a bird: 
be like the dove descending,
or the wild goose of Celtic art,
or perhaps the mythic phoenix, 
consumed and reborn in fire.”

Some time after my father’s death,
a little friendly bird came to my mother,
a jaunty willy wagtail, flitting and flirting,
sitting on the clothesline as she pegged,
and once upon her shoulder, tender joy.
That bird was God’s love for a time. 
The wilderness of grief awaited still,
but the bird brought comfort to go on.

First Nation’s people say that birds bring messages
which ears attuned to country can hear.
I am too dis-located to listen well,
but you in me can sense a sign.
You come to me in black cockatoos,
their soaring flight a ray of the divine
that lights me up with love and awe.
The urban wilderness still waits,
but see! black cockatoos find food
in front yard trees, sustaining hope.

Holy Spirit, come
in breath of risen Word
bestowing peace
enlarging call
and gifting words to speak.

Yes, come to me as word,
the Spirit’s word of sight,
a poet’s word, a prophet’s word,
word in a sleepless night
that gets me up to write,
to wrestle until dawn.
Then wounded, blessed I stumble on,
pursuing insight’s light.

Attune me to your breath,
the rise and fall, the rhythmic need,
breath from four winds and seasons,
the vision in the wilderness
that rouses desiccated bones
and reconnects to life.

Holy Spirit come,
creative inspiration
in words and art,
in drama, dance, 
in worship, prayer
and music’s stirring heart.

Teach me to breathe and sing,
sing of creation made to share
for nurture and delight,
and not to plunder for reward,
for power or fame or greed.
Teach me to listen quietly,
so I commune with animals,
with country and with stars.

The wilderness awaits,
temptation, revelation still.
Like Jesus, let us breathe and pray,
remember Wisdom’s word,
and gratefully be tended there
by angels and wild beasts.
	Barbara Messner 4/06/2025