The Wild Spirit

In the beginning, when God created the universe, the earth was without form and void … and the spirit of God moved over the face of the waters. Genesis 1: 1, 2

The Hebrew word for ‘spirit’ used in this passage also means ‘power’ , or ‘awesome wind’. Jesus said that God’s Spirit is like the wind that blows where it wills: it may be a gale or it may be a breeze; and there is no point in us trying to control it.

Non-religious people over the millennia have tried to ignore the Spirit of God; religious people have tried to tame the Spirit. Some of the Celtic Christians knew better than to do either. That is no doubt why Celts have used the symbol of the Wild Goose for the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not a tame bird, kept in a clean cage, to be released for short bursts at charismatic meetings….. The Holy Spirit makes his habitation in some of the wildest and darkest places this world has to offer…. The Holy Spirit is wonderfully free, able to go to the dark places of our own lives, for healing, to the dark unvisited places of our churches, and to the dark and demon-infested places of our society.
Michael Mitton

Spirit of God, be wild and free in me.
Batter my proud and stubborn will
Blow me where you choose
Break me down if you must
Re-fashion me as you will
Move me powerfully away
From the games I play
in order to try and tame you.
Lead me into the wild places
the places of dream or scream
the new frontiers or the total quiet
the long dark tunnels
or the wide, sunny vistas
to speak to lions
to move mountains
to bear tragedy
to mirror you