by Sister Cheryl Jacobs

 

 

I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home, and grew up attending worship services, Sunday School and then youth group. I remember being almost pharisaical in some aspects of my faith — committed, but perhaps without much depth. I think I was close to wandering away by my university days if not for a new relationship with my more committed future husband.

 

It was when I was about thirty years old and a member of, of all things, a diocesan (regional) evangelism committee where I heard that evangelism is simply sharing how one’s own story intersects with Jesus’ story, that I began to question how much of a relationship I really had with Jesus. It helped that I was also attending a moms’ group where several women were modeling a mature Christian faith.

 

At some point I came across Job 42, and I knew that for most of my life to that point, the ears of my head had heard all about the Trinity and then the eyes of my heart began to see, to see all the love and grace that God has for me. I then had wings to fly with as E. Stanley Jones has described.

 

Certainly since then, involvement with the Christian Ashram and similar activities extra to my church life have helped to build maturity in me. 30+ years on, it still amazes me that my Creator, the Creator of the universe, cares about me personally and is interested in an ongoing interchange of love, helping me to be a better human and to better be God’s image-bearer.

 

It saddens me that so many in the church, and those who have wandered away from the church, are missing out on the abundant joy and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Jesus is faithful despite our feelings of guilt and unworthiness.

 

Psalm 139 (1, 7-10, NRSV):

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

 

As we prepare for the celebration of Pentecost, we pray: Come, Holy Spirit, come!