Breath, Wind, and Flame: The Transformative Work of the Spirit
“Then [the Spirit] intercedes for us in groans too deep for words, then it is balm, seal, and pledge of life eternal. Then it is the source of the living waters that spring up in the heart and rise to eternal life, whispering: Let us go home to the Father!”
– Karl Rahner, The Mystical Way in Everyday Life
Pentecost is a celebration of the Holy Spirit within us. The book of Acts tells us that Jesus’s followers are filled with the Spirit, and that this gift extends to us too. Yet the Spirit is often the forgotten member of the Trinity. Even the name “Holy Ghost” may have led some of us to picture the Spirit as some sort of mysterious being floating through a haunted house.
Pentecost invites us to move beyond those vague ideas and more deeply explore the ways the Spirit is present in our daily lives. Scripture gives us tangible images for the Holy Spirit: breath, wind, and flame. These are not calm, quiet portrayals. Think of the “violent wind” described in Acts 2, the way a large storm can rattle the windows of your home. Tongues of fire descended upon ordinary people, causing others to think they were drunk!
The work of the Spirit is transformative—and that transformation can be disruptive. It may feel like you’re being shaken to your core. Your loved ones may question the change in you. You might question the shift in yourself! The Spirit may nudge us quietly, but the fruits that come from paying attention to those nudges are anything but subtle.
This loosening of the status quo may be a welcome change. Many of us know what it feels like to be stuck. We become trapped in routines, discouraged by the news, exhausted by responsibility, or uncertain about what comes next. Sometimes our spiritual lives can feel airless, like a house that’s been shut up for winter for too long. Pentecost reminds us that God’s Spirit does not wait for perfect conditions before arriving. The Spirit comes into locked rooms where it meets ordinary, anxious people. The Spirit breathes life into places that have grown stale.
Consider where this breath of life may be working in the stagnant places in your own life. In the Ignatian tradition, paying attention to the Spirit often begins with noticing. St. Ignatius of Loyola encouraged people to become attentive to the movements within their own hearts. Where do you experience consolation, energy, peace, or a sense of being drawn toward love? Where do you feel drained, closed off, resentful, or fearful? Pentecost encourages this kind of holy attention. The Spirit may usher in dramatic transformation, but it often does so in small, subtle invitations woven throughout ordinary life.
If we are truly open to the “source of the living waters” that springs forth within us, as Rahner wrote, then we are also opening ourselves to noticing these invitations. We invite you to explore your relationship with the Spirit this week. Perhaps you might sit with the images of breath, wind, and flame. Which image resonates with you most? How does that image represent the work of the Spirit in your life? Or if you’ve never prayed an Examen prayer before, maybe this is the week where you begin deepening your attention to the ways the Holy Spirit is already present in your life.
Noticing the Spirit’s movement asks us to be present and discerning to the nudges and stirrings within us. Discernment is a process—one that often takes place alongside others. If you’re interested in learning more about the transformative journey of becoming a spiritual director, please join us on June 15th for our online open house. Here, you’ll learn about our Spiritual Direction Formation and Training Program, hear from faculty and alumni, and engage with others who are considering embarking on this journey. Learn more and register here.