I had imagined that in this season of Pentecost, all I would have to do would be sit at the computer, ready to write the

Minister’s Musings and the Spirit would do the rest. I have been here three days now..................

From reading John’s Gospel we could get the idea that God’s Spirit is there for us on tap. From our own experience we

might be thinking the well has run dry. So what is the truth.

I am keeping well clear of gardening analogies for a while. So let’s try something else I know little about. Machines!

Washing machines, dishwashers, carpet vacuumers! Great machines when they are working. But if the pipes or tubes

are allowed to get clogged up, they stop functioning. At first you will hardly notice the difference and it may in fact take

some time to realise that all is not well - it may even take, in the case of water powered machines, a flooded kitchen floor

or worse to draw our attention to the problem. Then we maybe look at the dishes in our cupboard, the clothes in our

wardrobes, the carpets (most probably on the floors) and realise there has been a problem for a while. And it is not the

fault of the water supply or the electricity supply.

Perhaps the flow of the Holy Spirit is also made sluggish when we do not pay due attention to our conduits - our faith

arteries - our spiritual channels. And maybe the remedy is available in the Spirit, to blow through us and clear a way

so he can get in. The PS event (Pentecost Gathering at The Barony College - see the photo on page 4) was warm (hot

even) with a breeze to keep the kites flying. The day, I hope, was a chance to relax in the warmth of God's presence

but also to experience the movement of his Spirit refreshing his church.

So maybe rather than sitting here waiting for the Spirit to type the words, I should be being more pro-active. Pro-active

in allowing myself to allow God to take the lead. Pro-active in letting go my self sufficiency. Now there is the problem for

all of us!

And...

We get very caught up in right procedures. In the General Assembly of The Church of Scotland debates any suggested

changes to wordings of proposals 'have to be given to the clerk in writing'. In one debate the Youth Delegate from

Edinburgh Presbytery proposed a change. The powers that be reminded her that really the clerks needed to have this

in writing so make sure of the wording etc. However the Moderator of the moment very kindly said he thought perhaps

the clerks could help her out on this occasion. Her reply: “It’s only one word,  I think you could manage it”. Well done,

Morag Airnes. Please, please come into the ministry - we need you!