The Birthday Gift

I am not big on birthdays in general.  I appreciate the thought and crave the attention, but the reality is that I probably prefer the cake to the presents and cake is not my favorite. Oh, some birthdays are more memorable than others.  My tenth birthday was spent on the beach in Galveston, TX and what ten-year-old doesn’t love the beach?  My twelfth birthday was celebrated with the newly formed Texas Rangers at the old Turnpike Stadium.  Dizzy Dean threw out the first pitch… 

But enough of that ancient history. Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday.  My internet search of ‘Pentecost Sunday’ reveals that this is the day that marks the beginning of the Christian Church’s mission to the world, aka…the Christian Church’s birthday.  Let me readily admit that for most of my life, I have not spent too much time considering the church’s birthday.  Likely the lack of wrapping paper and definitely the lack of cake contributed to my disinterest.  But this year…

This year we explored Pentecost Sunday a few weeks early in our weekly church service.  We shared scripture from Acts 2: 1-8. 

My understanding is that the Apostles were gathered in one room together when a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house.  What they saw appeared to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  Each was filled with the Holy Spirit and was then able to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Wow!  That’s no trip to the beach…

The story moves on with a crowd gathering outside of the house when they heard the sounds of the winds from heaven.  And although the members of this crowd were diverse, speaking many different languages, each one was able to hear the Apostles speaking in their own native language!

Our minister wove a wonderful tale for our congregation using examples of instances when each of us might have been in a situation where we were not able to communicate in our native language.  He then asked us to consider how amazing it might feel to suddenly be able to hear in that same situation in our native language.

I smiled at that thought…forget speaking in tongues, maybe the Holy Spirit would allow the Apostles to speak in fingers!

Never one to miss an opportunity, I shared my fingers story with a few friends during the next couple of weeks to much acclaim.  Did I mention that I craved the attention?

Last Saturday evening I received an email from a friend who always sends a written copy of his sermons for me to use when streaming his service.  This was his message to me: 

“I am aware that my sermon is about “hearing” the gospel in our own language, and I talk some about God “speaking” directly to our hearts.  You may want to watch and read.”

And so, on Pentecost Sunday I pulled up the text from my friend’s sermon.  I found the link and streamed his service.  For most of the service I was able to follow along by reading the text and reading his lips.  The scripture and story were familiar.  The Apostles were gathered in one room…

But when he delivered these final words:

“As we listen, we are drawn to their holy fire, because they are speaking directly to our hearts. “

He signed the words and indeed, they spoke directly to my heart…

in fingers.

Thank you for thinking of me and thank you for a birthday gift that I shall never forget.

Thanks for listening!

Your friend,

KBM
Kevin Medlin
kevin@mysilentpew.com