The Holy Spirit as a Honking Goose

The other day Pope Francis referred in a homily to the way the Spirit sometimes moves us by annoying us. This is often my experience. Today in spiritual direction I shared a bit about my experience of the Spirit as a honking goose. Then I remembered that I wrote about this in the early days of my blog when I was a candidate. So here is my post from New Year's Eve 2005, courtesy of the way back machine that is this blog. Enjoy!

During my quiet reflection time on Christmas Eve, I spent some time with a reflection on the spirituality of CSJP founder Margaret Anna Cusack by Fr. Terry Moran. Margaret Anna was born in Ireland and was deeply nourished by Celtic spirituality. This tidbit in Fr. Moran’s reflection particularly struck me:

“The Celtic symbol for the Holy Spirit is not the gentle breeze, the mild dove but the wild goose! Is that not how God often is made known in our lives, honking and annoying us into fuller life, out of our comfort zones and into risk and relationship?”

I was immediately reminded of a solitary walk I took several years ago, right before my return to the church. It was an unsettled time in my life, and I was struggling to find my way. I do not recall what I was thinking about or contemplating that day, but I vividly remember my encounter with the goose. I was at a City park with beautiful rhododendrons and azaleas, windy paths, quiet benches, and an assortment of water fowl. There was a lake and a beautiful wooden footbridge across it. I started across, got 2/3 of the way, and was confronted by a goose. Honking and charging towards me. Protecting a baby goose no doubt, but determined that I would not make it across. I turned around. But then I noticed that others were making it across the bridge no problem. So I tried again. Got about 3/4 of the way across, and was again confronted by the honking charging goose. I was reminded of the 3 Billy Goats Gruff. I had no intention of tempting the goose a 3rd time. I found another part of the park in which to meander.

I’ve never forgotten that day. I’ve been back to the park since, but have only attempted to cross that particular footbridge when accompanied by friends. Otherwise I stay clear of the bridge of the Billy Goose Gruff.

This New Year’s Eve morning I went to a different park for a morning walk. Lots of good reflection and consolation from God’s wonderful gift of creation. The Pacific Northwest is so beautiful this time of year. Lush and green. On my drive home, however, I remembered my reflection last week and that walk years ago. I found myself driving by the park of the Billy Goose Gruff. And so I parked. And I walked. And I came to the footbridge. Sure enough there were many waterfowl resting and playing in the lake, including an assortment of geese. And at one end of the bridge there was a goose standing guard, observing all that went on. Dare I cross the bridge?

There was not a repeat of the Billy Goose Gruff incident. The goose looked me over, and apparently deemed me no threat. I crossed the bridge, walked around the island, and crossed back with no minor or major incidents.

But by thinking of the goose as a symbol for the Holy Spirit, what does this story tell me? On that Saturday morning many years ago I was not on the right path. I was searching and looking and to be honest ignoring the soft gentle signs. So maybe I needed a loud and honking goose to turn me around and annoy me to finding my way to a fuller life. And now? Risks taken, comfort zones breached, I find myself more at peace and open to where my loving God is calling me. Even if I sometimes find my feathers ruffled.

Interesting to reflect on this last day of the year.

Margaret Anna Fridays - Pentecost Edition

Most Fridays, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. Here is today's installment:

Do we ever sufficiently consider how necessary the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit is for our satisfaction? Let us make our meditation today and tomorrow, on the eve of this great festival, as in some sort considerations and examens on this all-important subject. When our divine Lord left the world to go to the Father, He sent the Holy Ghost to teach us and to give us peace.

-MF Cusack, Meditations for Advent & Easter, 1866

Happy Pentecost

Today of course is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost has meant different things to me over the years ... and I've blogged about different aspects as well.

Perhaps my favorite Pentecost Sunday was a few years ago when I was teaching 4 & 5 year old Sunday School. (Ok, that was 5 years ago, which is more than a few. Where does the time go?)

We may be knuckleheads at times, but that’s why Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit. I may not be able to speak in tongues but today I was able to speak 4 & 5 year olds which is pretty close.

The next Pentecost Sunday found me in an in between space, getting ready to leave my single girl life and enter the CSJPs. I was more than a wee bit anxious.

I was at church early so I decided to stop and smell the roses … there’s a small City rose garden close by. ... I noticed one small patch though that wasn’t quite yet in full bloom. A few roses were in bloom, others were beginning to, but the majority were green buds waiting to burst into fullness. “Huh,” I thought. “Yes I am taking leave. Things will not be the same. But new things will happen here at St Phil’s and in the lives of my friends. And new and exciting things will happen as I journey into a new phase of life as well. It will all be ok.” That’s when I looked down and saw the name of this brand of roses …. The Gift of Life. Interesting that on this Pentecost Sunday the Spirit speaks to me through a bed of roses!

A few years later, during my novitiate back East one of my favorite sisters in the West passed away on Pentecost. She was incredibly wise and I think we all miss her. Luckily, she left us some of her wisdom which I shared here on the blog.

Life and prayer are intertwined, because the natural thing to do is to talk to God, to pray. Nothing is compartmentalized. We’re part and parcel of what’s going on all over the world. That’s not something I have to work on – it’s a natural reaction, a natural response. All the equipment we have, our senses of vision, hearing, touch, blend in to connect us to the Creator and we’re still connected when any of these senses are lost. ~ Sr. Margaret Dove, CSJP

Then last year on Pentecost, I found myself reading the words of another Margaret ... Margaret Anna Cusack, the founder of my religious community. Turns out she wrote a meditation book for Advent & Easter, and I spent the morning with her reflections for Pentecost.

Pray that this blessed Spirit may descend upon you today in all his fullness and in all his love. ~ Mother Francis Clare (Margaret Anna Cusack)

This Pentecost Sunday, I find myself looking back (obviously) at all the places the Holy Spirit has been present in my own life. I'm also taking a course this quarter on Theology in an Ecumenical Context, and so on this "Birthday of the Church" I also find myself looking at the presence of the Holy Spirit in the larger church, the "Holy catholic and apostolic one" with a little "c". The universal church.

And so I pray, in the words of Margaret Anna, that this blessed Spirit may descend upon us all today in all fullness and love. May be be open to God's graces, abundant blessings, and the movement of the Spirit to places we never imagined.