May
20
Written by:
Dennis Atwood
5/20/2010 1:11 PM
There is a unique brand of Christian faith known as “Celtic Christianity” that originated off the coast of Scotland from a tiny little island called Iona. It actually began in Ireland during the 5th century when St. Patrick evangelized the whole country while the rest of Europe suffered through the Dark Ages. From the tiny island of Iona, Celtic Christians spread the Gospel throughout all of England and Scotland beginning in the 6th century. For these adventurous Celtic Christians, their chosen symbol for the Holy Spirit was not the familiar “sweet heavenly dove,” but rather … a wild goose.
The Celtic Christians were often characterized by their “restless wanderings” because they were always moving about on mission, being led by the Spirit. For them, the image of the Spirit as “gentle dove” was a very real one. However, the primary symbol that characterized the experience of God’s Spirit in their lives was a “wild goose.” It served as a fitting reminder to them that the Holy Spirit was in charge, and that the Spirit could not be tamed or controlled.
The image of the Holy Spirit as “sweet and gentle heavenly dove” has become so familiar and domesticated to many of us that we pay little attention to any of the other images that are just as true.
The Spirit is our comforter and guide through difficult times. The Spirit will give us leadership, discernment and direction for living. But the Spirit will not be manipulated or controlled by human hands. The Holy Spirit is to be discerned and obeyed. When we’re on the same page with the Holy Spirit then we receive power beyond our imagination, and it will be a wild ride!
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, the day when the Holy Spirit was poured down upon all peoples regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, language, economic status, etc., as recorded in Acts 2. I have a sermon for that. But for today, perhaps the alternative image of the Holy Spirit as wild goose is just the place to start.