Joel Russell-MacLean

A violent wind is never a good thing – except for once.

Instead of causing destruction, the violent wind at Pentecost signalled God’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh. 

The Holy Spirit is life, joy, and growth, the old world blown away and something new beginning.

We long for God to walk on earth again and for our world to be transformed. At the same time, it seems like most of our ideas of God revealed on earth are terrifying. In fact, the Greek word for “reveal” – apocalypse – for most people now means a time of cataclysmic destruction on earth. I’m reminded of a line from Carl Sagan’s book (and movie) Contact, describing humanity as “capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares.” 

God came to earth as Jesus and brought healing, hope, and the first resurrection.

And then God the Holy Spirit descended to earth. Like springtime in Canada, people, animals, plants, towns, and cities all come to life when the wind of the Spirit blows across the earth. We have a taste of this now to help us hang on until God restores and transforms all life once and for all.