I know I’m late to the party, like usual, but I just discovered the awesomeness that is Audible. I actually gifted Adam with an Audible subscription a few years ago to listen to audiobooks during his 45-minute commute.
It turns out, he never used it, and I forgot about it, until recently. I had a bunch of credits that had accumulated so when I downloaded the app onto my new phone to look up titles for the kids, it was like Christmas!
But then I downloaded a few books for myself as well and was hooked! Of course, I still prefer to read the traditional way, as I like the sensory appeal of books, the smell, the sound of turning pages, and of course the feel of an especially well-loved book.
BUT, I have always been one to have several books going at once, so it’s no big deal to shift from audio to physical, and honestly, the convenience of listening while I’m doing chores is AMAZING and a total time saver!
I just finished my latest title- The Last Sin Eater, by Francine Rivers. For those of you familiar with this incredibly prolific author, this one is vastly different from some of her more popular titles. The story was centered upon a ten-year-old girl in the 1800s and her struggle with guilt, sin, and staunch traditions.
Without giving away too much of the book, she ends up meeting a traveling preacher, and risks her very life to talk with him. His words deeply move and touch her and she immediately becomes baptized, experiencing the tremendous love of Our Lord as she physically feels the burden of sin slip from her shoulders.
Time and time again she is put in harm’s way, only to be hidden from her would-be murderer, or given the wisdom of knowing where to go, or who to talk to, or even given the words to bring comfort and win souls for Christ in their godless Highlands.
Her Holy Spirit inspired courage and wisdom and brought about redemption and healing to a community sick with guilt and shame.
This Sunday we celebrate the great birthday of our church- Pentecost Sunday. That first Pentecost, all those years ago, the power of the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. It filled them with supernatural courage and boldness.
The Holy Spirit brought about clarity, as the apostles went out to preach The Way to all the ends of the earth, relying on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to guide their speech and actions.
The same power given to the apostles on Pentecost is planted in us at our baptism and is called forth with great strength at Confirmation to make us bold in proclaiming the same gospel to the world we live in today.
We may not have the unique opportunity of having tongues of fire hanging out on top of our heads, or speaking to hundreds in a language that is not our own, but the Holy Spirit is within us, calling us forward.
Come Holy Spirit! Light your fire of love within me, so that I may burn with courage and wisdom and lead many souls to the loving arms of Christ.
Until next time, your sister in Christ,
Leah