Spirit = Wind, Fire, Goose!

There is a traditional children’s game called, “Duck, Duck, Goose,” the object of which is to run around a circle of people, touching each one and saying, “duck.” But, when the person who is “it” says, “goose” that person is to chase the one who is “it” before they get back to your empty spot to avoid being “it.” Children’s games are far easier to play than to explain.

Ducks, it seems, are far easier to control than geese. Ducks usually just sit there, while geese will chase you around. So, for centuries the Celtic people have depicted the Holy Spirit as a wild goose. It is noisy, uncontrollable, unpredictable and will chase you around—just like God’s Holy Spirit.

Fire keeps us warm and cooks our food. Fire sheds light in darkness and bring us a sense of safety. Fire also burns and destroys. For all of these reasons, ones that are comforting and ones that are dangerous, the Holy Spirit is depicted as fire.

There’s nothing quite like opening the doors and windows in the springtime and letting the fresh breeze blow through the house. Even inanimate objects seem to straighten up, appreciating the fresh air. Yet a storm can be very frightening and strong wind can cause great destruction. Again, both the freshness and the power are intended when we use the image of the Holy Spirit as wind.

Oh, how often I sat in a circle hoping that I would not be the goose.

Oh, how often I fear that the Church refuses to even play the game, to even sit in a circle and hope and pray to be touched by the goose, to be licked by the burning fire, to be knocked over by the stiff wind.

It is a dangerous thing we play with when we play with the Holy Spirit. It can roar with great violence and burn with its heat, but when harnessed, in a community of faith, the Holy Spirit can inspire and motivate in ways that are beyond our imaginations.

If I were to play Duck-Duck-Goose today, I would pray to be “it” so I could run around touching everyone on the shoulder shouting, “GOOSE!”