Implanted Hope
The Divine Spirit, a constant presence within us, echoes the promises of the Hebrew prophets. The unnamable I AM, etched upon our hearts, reveals a timeless truth - the indwelling divine characteristic that has existed since the beginning of time. Let us call this the Implanted Hope of the Holy Spirit.
The Hebrew word ruach and the Greek pneuma hold diverse meanings, encompassing breath, breeze, gale, angel, demon, the human heart and soul, and the divine presence itself. Yet, what stands out most is that the Spirit is the divine indwelling in creation. As God declares through Ezekiel, "I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live."
Without the Holy Spirit, there is no inner momentum, no élan vital, no aliveness to heal our wounds. When the Spirit awakens within people, they emerge from mechanical thinking and enter the realm of co-creative power. Like Ezekiel's vision, the waters of renewal flow from ankles to knees to waist to neck, hydrating the New Earth. We transform from wooden to real, from hurt people hurting others to wounded healers mending the wounds of the world.
The Indwelling Spirit is the ability of humanity to persevere, to recover from its wounds, to keep hoping. In young children, we cherish their indomitable hope, curiosity, and desire to grow - they fall, yet soon their grins return, for another generation is ready to embrace life fully. But as we age, the smiles often fade, and we wonder, "What happened between six and sixty?" It is the loss of Spirit, for if we trust in the Holy Spirit's presence within, we will continue on, undaunted by setbacks.
(adopted from: Jack Levison, Fresh Air; Richard Rohr, The Divine Dance)