In this piece of Scripture, Jesus tells his disciples that there are many things he still wants to share with them. He promises the disciples the presence of the Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, which will guide them. This passage is a beautiful reminder of the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It calls us to deeper relationship with God, trusting that the Spirit will lead us, teach us, and guide us.
In reflecting on this Scripture, it creates a sense of both peace and wonder. Like the disciples, there are moments for all of us when we wish we understood the path in front of us more, but we have to wait and trust. Knowing that the Spirit will guide us in these moments is comforting. Trusting that this will happen can push us outside our comfort zone!
Some of you will know the call of the Curlew bird. The cry of the Curlew is piercing, it’s voice echoing across the silent landscape – often interrupting the silence of the night. It can sound like a cat screeching, or a baby wailing and can be quite disturbing. In a similar way, the Spirit calls out to us – persistently and sometimes in surprising ways, breaking through our barriers. Just as the Curlew’s cry reminds us we are not alone, the Spirit’s call reassures us of God’s constant present.
For everyone there are times in their life when they can feel unsure of which direction to take, as though they are lost and wandering. It is in those moments, we most need to create spaces to hear the Spirit beckoning us forward, inviting us to listen, to trust, to move closer to God. The Spirit doesn’t force us or demand, but patiently calls, guiding us onwards.
This sort of listening is hard. Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann encourages us to the practice of Deep Listening…. simply tapping into the Spirit, waiting and listening. In our busy-ness this is not our natural response. But we do well to create spaces where we can discern the voice of the Spirit from our own thoughts. In these moments we can step out in faith and trust that the Spirit is guiding us. This can lead to a deeper understanding, greater peace or even unexpected opportunities. In a year where we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope, it can give life to our hope.
Ultimately, this Scripture reminds us to trust that the Holy Spirit is always working within us, leading each of us to a fuller understanding of who God is and who we are. Just as the Curlew’s call is persistent and clear, so too is the Spirit’s call to each of us. We need only to listen and trust in the Spirit’s guidance.
by Laura Avery