Pentecost 2020 Poem by John Fairlamb

The festival of the Holy Spirit
The fresh anointing
The new vision

The community of connection
Moving out
Beyond the bounds of the upper room
and enclosed spaces,
Moving Out
of Jerusalem and the 'in-crowd'
Moving out
To all the world and to the margins.
Moving out,
Connecting
Communicating
With a new language.

Not studied and slow,
Acquired through diligent attention to detail and
Drill, drill, drill, in order to instil
The vocabulary and diction,
The grammar and punctuation...

Instead, this language is one supernaturally installed and perfectly spoken.
Instead, this language is more than mere words,
This language (which can be understood in every tongue) is the amazing language of LOVE.

The tower of Babel
Turned on its head -
Instead of confusion and incomprehension
This language brings clarity and connection
Instead of animosity and deep suspicion
This language brings Unity, Inclusion and Trust.

The Holy Spirit language is more than mere words,
It's guidance, inspiration, comfort and peace,
It's transformation,
It's inspiration
It's the language that speaks
Even when we're lost for words
In the final analysis,
It's the language of love.