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Peaceful at Pentecost

By Anita Mathias

The Thames near Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford

Pentecost–the coming of the Spirit to a frightened and fearful huddle. It is one of my favourite Christian feasts, so hopeful… The Spirit comes not because we are worthy, often not even because we have asked him to, but because he is good, and kind, and desires to bless. He comes in his own way, on demand, to the humble repentant heart, Jesus says, and in the way He chooses, like water which softens hearts, like wind which cleanses them, like a dove which warms them, like fire which sets them ablaze.

I am in an in-between season. Zoe my eldest is wrapping up her Oxford University degree in theology (prayers welcomed for her Final exams); she then has a church internship at St. James Church, Hoxton, London, part of the Stepney internship scheme. Irene is taking her last school exams ever, and, contingent on results, hopes to enter a six year course in Medicine at Christ Church College, Oxford.

I am working on a long book, the idea of which came to me decades ago!! I cannot say God told me to write it, but I can say that God called me to write, and this is the book which I feel led or impelled to write, for reasons God alone knows, and which I am slowly understanding. I am working steadily, revising 3000 words a day, while knowing that many may not make it into the final draft.

I am taking an eight week Mindfulness course at Oxford University. I am half-way through it, but the shift has been seismic, in my mental state, in my serenity, in my sleep, in my productivity. As I guess a sculptor would feel foolish or superstitious about describing his sculpture midway, so I will not quantify or describe it just yet, but whoa, am I glad I am taking it!

It’s a beautiful spring, warm golden weather, and once or twice a week, I go on a long walk, increasing my mileage by 10% a week, as the gurus recommend. (Don’t be too impressed; I’m at 13 miles a week, in my 5th week of increases.) Chris McDougall who wrote the great running book Born to Run (and has converted me, amid much ouchiness to forefoot running) says something like, “If you have a problem that a four hour run can’t solve, then you ain’t going to solve it.”

Four hour runs I doubt I will ever do; I am a great believer in the minimum effective dose, just enough for health, but I have swapped out listening to audiobooks on my walks for prayer and problem-solving. That’s something else I’ve learned from my mindfulness course, listening to the wisdom of the body, and what its tense places are telling me; quietening down with deep, slow breathing, until the wisdom of the spirit emerges, the wisdom of the Spirit within me, the spirit who is breath, ruach, who Jesus transmitted to the disciples when he breathed on them.

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Filed Under: In which I chase the wild goose of the Holy Spirit, In which I Dream Beneath the Spires of Oxford Tagged With: Born to Run, Chris McDougall, forefoot running, holy spirit, Mindfulness, Minimum Effective Dose, Oxford University, Pentecost, Ruach, running, The Holy Spirit

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Comments

  1. David C Brown says

    June 8, 2017 at 5:00 am

    John 14: 16,17
    And I will beg the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him nor know him; but ye know him, for he abides with you, and shall be in you.

    It is good to know the Holy Spirit as a Friend!

  2. Andy says

    June 4, 2017 at 5:24 pm

    It is so good to hear from you again, Anita. It was as if I was holding my breath a bit and am now able to breathe in deeply with some relief. My wife mentioned your blog just yesterday which makes it all the better to hear from you today. I think Pentecost must be like a long awaited breath into the soul that has been promised but you’re not sure what it is until it happens; oxygen to the spirit, magical!

    • Anita Mathias says

      June 4, 2017 at 10:09 pm

      Hi Andrew, it IS good to hear from you too! “Pentecost must be like a long awaited breath into the soul that has been promised but you’re not sure what it is until it happens; oxygen to the spirit,magical.” Lovely. I agree!
      I hope you are well? Thank you for reading and responding!

  3. Janet says

    June 4, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    I am so glad you decided to write and post. Your daughters are amazing! Thank you Anita for sharing your words and world. You are such an inspiration to me. Have a blessed day. Prayers for finals.

    • Anita Mathias says

      June 4, 2017 at 2:01 pm

      Thank you so much for the encouragement you’ve given me over the years, Janet. It means so much to me!

  4. David Vroegindeweij says

    June 4, 2017 at 8:28 am

    In the wake of The London Bridge attack the feeling of being indignant at evil brings a defined peace and calm ;
    An assurance that says ” Come Holy Spirit , come.”

    • Anita Mathias says

      June 4, 2017 at 10:42 am

      Indeed. I don’t know what I would do without the sense of the Spirit as friend, and praying for his infilling several times a day

  5. Jeff Payne says

    June 4, 2017 at 5:36 am

    It’s always refreshing to read what you write and how God is working in your life. Thank you.

    • Anita Mathias says

      June 4, 2017 at 10:41 am

      Thank you, Jeff. It was so slight that I hesitated posting, but for me, blogging is like a treasure island, a place to relax. Thank you for reading, and for your encouragement!

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Anita Mathias: About Me

Anita Mathias
Premier Digital Awards 2015 - Finalist - Blogger of the year
Runner Up Christian Media Awards 2014 - Tweeter of the year

Recent Posts

  • On why God Permits our Weaknesses and Frailities to linger, and on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit–and its limits!
  • In Praise of Desert and Wilderness Experiences
  • It’s all God’s money: Thoughts on “the Cattle on a Thousand Hills”
  • Gratitude: A Secret to Happiness
  • The Things Worth Doing Badly
  • A Christmas Reflection, and Letter
  • Even Better than the Alps… Thoughts on Returning Home
  • Peaceful at Pentecost
  • Failing Better: A New Year’s Resolution, of sorts
  • Burn-Out Vanishes When We Rediscover Purpose

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