Keeping in step with the Spirit

Keeping in step with the Spirit

To place the next step securely, with confidence, assurance,

To move forward, making progress, delightedly creative,

To be focussed, not distracted, not turning aside,

To make my way towards my goal, not deterred, not blocked, not confounded by obstacles,

To know deep peace in my heart as I travel, not confused, beset by doubts, troubled or impressed by the clamour around me,

To step with such joy I could shout or sing, or weep, with gladness,

To set out, and continue, full of hope, both clear-sighted of my goal and trusting when I cannot see around the corner,

To have a companion on my way in the silent communion of a love shared that knows no measure,

To feel strong and capable of facing anything and everything because I am not alone,

To find the end of all my searching and the beginning of my journey, and to realise this is the path I have always been on,

To know now that all I have to do is follow and I will arrive safe home,

To accept that till I get there I have much to do, but with the confidence that it will be done:

This is what it means to keep in step with the Spirit.

When all is uncertain and fleeting, when you are so lost you have no idea where you are, when you have made so many mistakes and feel that you cannot possibly pick yourself up and try again, there is the Spirit who makes himself present, saying, “Here I am”. This is all that really matters, for it is what I most desire, that the Spirit should still be there, should still be willing to come to me, should speak to me with fresh words, but always the same intent, “Come with me”.

He never tires of picking me up, of carrying me when I cannot go on, of encouraging me, “You try now”. In his company all things are possible. Blinkers fall away leaving clear vision to the furthest horizon. You touch the rock and the spring of living water flows. Your joy and hope know no bounds. All of life is for you and it is for you to share with all.

Yet he is so great a mystery. I hardly know him, yet when he is near I know him instantly.  He is my constant companion, yet he also comes and goes, visiting me at key moments – at the pitfalls, at the fork in the road, at the dead-end at the end of my wrong turning when I rushed on heedless, at the vantage point when suddenly the world opens up in all its glory.

Most mysterious is the truth he imparts. In a world of such competing choices, such attractive opportunities, such compelling delusions, such shameless lies, such vitally important decisions, he always says the right thing. He never fails or falters, even though I fail and falter all the time. Yet if I follow his way, I never make a mistake. I cannot understand this. I cannot prove this.  It does not make sense. He simply is the truth. We, who are so easily fooled – by others and by ourselves, who so gladly twist things to our own advantage, who are so willingly blind to the truth when it does not suit us, we can recognise the truth when he speaks it to us – and he always does.

Seeking a rock for my foundation stone, I found it in the Spirit’s breath; like the wind which passes over us, going where we do not know, we are inspired, and we know to follow.