Pastor's Page

A few years ago, I awoke to hear a tapping at the window of what had become the guest bedroom. It happened every morning: a robin would come and repeatedly tap on the window. Sometimes he perched on the window sill and tapped. Sometimes he flew up from the roof and tapped. This went on pretty much all morning, until the sun significantly shifted position in the sky.

I eventually learned that dear Robin saw his reflection, and some quick research indicated that he was protecting his territory by challenging the bird he saw reflected back due to the sun’s position on the window to a darkened room. But in the moment, it seemed symbolic. Looking at a picture of him in flight, I was reminded of some of the pictures that depict the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the Spirit was tapping to be let in- into the church, into my home, into the heart. Or perhaps the taps were to remind me of the Spirit’s presence. When I saw it in that light, every tap was a reminder of God’s presence.

We all encounter symbols that we feel are God at work- a bald eagle swooping down just as we need a reminder of the power of the Spirit, seemingly sent just for us. Sometimes, there’s a perfectly mundane reason for them- migration patterns led the eagle to this point and the pond has a fish that’s easy to see and catch- but I don’t think that means they aren’t symbolic as well. Science doesn’t mean that symbols are no longer just for us; I think there’s a reason that our hearts turn to God in those times, and that the mundane becomes symbolic: the Spirit has opened our heart to a deeper meaning even in the midst of the mundane.

Pentecost will be here soon, the “birthday of the church”. On Pentecost we remember that the Spirit did come and continues be present with us.

So let us continue to notice those symbols, reminded of God’s presence in and truths for our lives, as we look ahead to Pentecost.

Blessings,

Pastor Annie



Pastor Annie McMillan