I’m taking a blogging sabbatical this summer, but will occasionally be sharing some posts from the past.
In spite of my vow never to leave Minnesota in the summer, Friday I leave on a trip to Northerwestern Kenya to take a closer look at the work World Vision is doing in maternal and child health and learn how to be a better advocate. Traveling in the developing world always requires me to lay aside any agenda or timetable, so this post from a few years ago is a good reminder to me. Maybe you too.
I was maneuvering laboriously, with stops and starts, through the parking lot at Costco yesterday, thinking for the millionth time that the Costco parking lot is either an outer ring of hell or a brilliant opportunity for spiritual formation.
As I dodged runaway giant shopping carts,
and waited for pedestrians absorbed in studying their shopping lists wandering blindly in the middle of the row,
and backed up for cars in front of me that slammed on their brakes upon spying the tell-tale white reverse lights of a car vacating a parking place they could nab…
I thought of a spiritual practice a friend of mine has been advocating. The simple practice of saying “Come Holy Spirit” throughout the day in situations like this that require patience, understanding, and discipline beyond me.
When I say “Come Holy Spirit” it reminds me that God is with me in every small moment. It encourages me to try to see the situation through His eyes. It reminds me of His character. It says, “I’m depending on your power because I’m weak as a baby and about as mature. I need you. Your power perfected in my weakness.”
I love to think about Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…
Which of these names do you most need to be reminded of today?
Come Holy Spirit.
Come Counselor.
Come Mighty God.
Come Everlasting Father.
Come Prince of Peace.
Come.
Even to the Costco parking lot.
Ah, I needed this today! With three kids, two of them crying/screaming at me at the same time this morning (for a long time!), I thought to myself, “I need a Christian mantra here to CALM me down!” Come Holy Spirit. Thanks, Laura.
Ah Jen I’m with you! It can be so hard to think straight and remember the presence and peace of Jesus in the midst of a storm of tines! Praying for you now.