“If They See Us” by The Rev. Kaji Douša
This week, Christian communities around the world celebrate the day of Pentecost, which is a day told in the story of Acts 2 where the Holy Spirit came down and helped people who could not understand each other to communicate and to understand each other and see each other beautifully. And I think about the power of the Holy Spirit in a time when lots of us are surrounded by others who we seem unable to understand, and I wonder about what the miracle of Pentecost would look like right now if, in the beautiful words of Ava DuVernay’s amazing new film that I encourage everybody to see, if we could see each other, “When They See Us” … when they can hear us, when they can understand us, then the fire of Pentecost will burn down all the divisions. When we see each other, when we hear each other, IF we can see and hear each other, and we can believe in the power of Pentecost, then the Holy Spirit is going to heal those divisions and stop the injustices, and we won’t go pursuing people and naming them wrong things, sending them to jail inappropriately, hating each other. The divisions of this country need the power of the Holy Spirit – so before you trolls come on here yelling at me about not understanding God, I would call on the Holy Spirit to encourage you to listen to me, to see me for a human, for a person who loves Jesus. God bless you.