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“Secret Superpowers”
This Sunday is Pentecost, the day Christian Churches celebrate as the moment that God delivers the Holy Spirit to the world. Some people often refer to this as the birthday of the Church, referring to the events that take place in the Book of Acts immediately following the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Though Churches recognize this as one of the major days of emphasis each year, I’m not sure that many church-goers really grasp it. Goodness, I know I didn’t (and still don’t, fully).
So, let’s begin at the conclusion: God sends the Holy Spirit into the world at Pentecost so that you and I “have help” to live life. Essentially, that’s what we are celebrating. We are now equipped to handle whatever is in front of us.
When I was a child, I understood this as God giving us superpowers, although I knew I couldn’t fly or make lasers shoot out of my hands. As a child, I couldn’t begin to understand what this meant because I didn’t understand life. Now, as an older, greying pastor, I still imagine what it would be like to have superpowers, though I understand the Holy Spirit’s power in a very different manner.
How do I understand it? When reflecting on the superpowers of the Spirit, I recall some of the most challenging moments in my life. Oh, these don’t have to be the “Big” events that everyone would recognize. Instead, these are often the big moments in my life that I know I could not have handled without God’s intervention through the Spirit.
Were these moments death-defying? Sure, a few were. Were these moments big to other people in my life? Sure, some of them. Most of them, however, were not significant to anyone but me. In other words, I recognize God’s presence more when the only people involved are me and God. Whether other people recognize this as some kind of superpower doesn’t matter. Instead, what matters is that God gave me the tools I need to survive, live, and grow.
You may not believe it, but both you and I have secret superpowers. It may not be bionic strength or super-cold breath, but God has instilled within us the gifts and tools to accomplish and overcome much more than we think. The Holy Spirit equips us with exactly what we need, when we need it. That’s cool. That’s beautiful. That’s Super!
God Bless,
Brock
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