Comments on: Pentecost: Fire and Breath

By: Katie Treadway

Katie Treadway — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:33:29 +0000

Thank you again, Jan. The quote from Kim Chernin was especially powerful to me.

By: Chaplain Sherrie Connelly

Chaplain Sherrie Connelly — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:53:20 +0000

The movement of the Spirit led me to your site as I prepare a sermon for Pentecost and Mother’s Day at the Swedenborgian Church in El Cerrito, California. How wonderful to read your reflection, and others’ comments. I am grateful to find this. My working title is “Hearts on Fire, Burning Bright.” God’s love and Mother’s nurture, and the spirit of love’s empowerment. How we pass both on through what we love, who we love, how we love, and allowing ourselves to be loved back. Years ago I researched the spiritual dimension of work, what I call “Work Spirit.” Doing work we are meant to do is another kind of fire to kindle and keep alive. Good wishes to you.

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:39:37 +0000

So glad of the link to your blog – I had not discovered it before although I read your book on Advent and Christmas every year. The connection between the journey from the burning bush to freedom and the Spirit coming at Pentecost reminds me that we are given the fire not just for ourselves but the warm the community.

By: Robin Walker

Robin Walker — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:59:15 +0000

My mother died ten years ago next month, suffering the slow suffocation of emphysema. For several years, we could only sit with her as she gasped for every breath — literally dying before our eyes. I can never again take breathing for granted. I thank God every day when I can inhale a healthy dose of fresh air each morning as the dog and I step out for our morning walk. Pentecost does indeed challenge us to keep breathing, but I am very aware that many churches are gasping for breath today.

By: Marti Garrison

Marti Garrison — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:32:41 +0000

One truth I perceive about the flame, the fire, is if I/we get up the nerve to turn and face it, or we are turned to face it, I/we can no longer coast in nuetral. The prophets faced this fire and then spoke it and lived in…and died for it sometimes. Who can take these risks? But not taking them, or some of them, leaves me in the gray neutrality, a poison that can seep throughout my being, drop by drop, day by day. On a systemic scale, what does that do to our churches, our country? On a smaller scale, what price do I pay?

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:36:46 +0000

While I am still personally wonderfully and spiritually anchored considering ‘where I dwell’, I do not resist the tug on the invisible thread that allows me to enjoy each additional post, word and image.

Your creation for Penecost is, to coin a phrase, breath-taking, and begs a long-ago question: why not become all flame?

Indeed….

Thanks for your offerings, Jan.

By: Jan Richardson

Jan Richardson — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:51:36 +0000

Many thanks, Kate! I am so grateful to Jenee Woodard for her wondrous ministry via The Text This Week at textweek.com. Thank you for your own blessed blog.

By: revdrkate

revdrkate — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:21:12 +0000

Jan, I was happy to see your link at Text week for Pentecost. I feel I should comment more often as your blog is one of my “must-reads” for sermon prep. I love both your visual art and your reflections. Thank you.