A Pentecostal Vibe

We are the body of Christ
(and members in particular)
with all its necessary parts
radiantly walking forward
leaping and dancing, acknowledging
each diverse perspective as valid and needed.
If two think the same thing, then one of them is redundant.
In the Pentecost of old,
they spoke in different languages
but understood one another.
Fortified by mutual respect, we do this too.

Each of us with different points of view and vantage points:
the foot sees that cat as something huge and threatening,
but the forehead says, what that? no big deal,
as the hands in tandem scoop it up and stroke it.
Only together do we see the whole picture.
We are more than the sum of the parts.
The Holy Spirit is here.

What’s needed is not a billion dollar dam
to solve the world’s water problem,
but multitudes of thousand-dollar wells;
we individually and collectively need to
vigilantly do all those small things
that feed into the solution
with every tiny contribution integral
and requiring no one big fix.

Not only do we have different voices
but spheres too:
our respective Venn diagrams only slightly overlapping:
but all are essential, capable and courageous
effectively covering the entire ground.

One stick is easy to snap into two,
but a bundle of sticks tied tightly together in unity
are much stronger and more difficult to break.

The twelve disciples
who had traveled long roads together
and who had done all that work of relationship building
were entrusted to bring Christianity forward.
So what cannot our little band do?
We’ve been on the path together too
experiencing him at our side as well.

“The harvest is great, but the laborers are few:
pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest
that he would send forth laborers into the harvest.”
(Their prayer yielded Paul; are we praying for help too?)
We know that when we are grateful for what we have
we shall be fitted to receive more.
And oh my goodness, we have wonderful laborers
dedicated, earnest, hardworking, integrity-filled people
in this church
as we meet to consider our vision and goals
to enable outreach and sharing,
(pervasive and specific, global and local, remote and in person)
overcoming sin,
answering the deep questions
bringing meaning and hope
and healing the nations.

It is about caring enough for mankind
to offer what will help the most;
it is about being thankful enough
to freely give as we are so glad to have been given;
it is about being unselfish enough
to get past the “what’s in it for me” syndrome
–banishing self-indulgent apathy and noncommittal passivity–
and it is about letting God open our eyes
to the opportunities percolating all around us…
and then, ultimately, seizing each moment of every day in the right direction.
For surely we would not have been made this ready
for something that is not to come to pass.

Everyone would want to be part of what we have if they only knew:
the incredibly inspired stability that is here
born of routinely witnessing miracles together…

We’re ready to take this to the next level.
How joyous it is to be all of one accord in one place!

In every tongue we pledge
with collaboration and solidarity
that “we solemnly promise to watch, and pray
for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus;
to do unto others as we would have them do unto us;
and to be merciful, just and pure.”

The world needs what we can offer
and we have been graciously prepared over many years
to be primed as we are now
to serve it up
to hungering humanity
with grace, dignity, compassion and love.
Thanks be to God.

by Polly Castor
6/28/11
Quoted : Luke 10:2 and the 6th tenet of Christian Science