Where in the world is the Holy Spirit?

"We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body,

whether Jew or Greek, or slave or free,

and we all were given one Spirit to drink.”

(1 Corinthians 12:13 Common English Bible)

When I was in grade school we’d play a game called, “Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego?” It was a game designed to teach us world geography and increase our appreciation for the world’s many peoples and cultures. Carmen San Diego could travel anywhere and do anything, and we had to use our knowledge of her and the world — aided by clues she’d leave for us — to find her.

Playing this game, for me at least, increased my sense of wonder about the world: Where is Carmen going and why? How can I be part of her work of discovery? It was like a thirst, this desire to know more, to explore, to be part of something meaningful.

The Holy Spirit evokes much the same kind of thirst in me. Where is the Holy Spirit hanging out and why? What is she up to and how can I be part of it? So much thirst. Thirsting for presence. Thirsting for belonging. Thirsting for meaning.

Thirst is a common human experience. We thirst for something cool to drink on a hot day, after a hard day’s work or a long walk. John’s Gospel, chapter four, tells a story of when Jesus thirsted. One day, after traveling a long journey through Samaria, Jesus was exhausted and thirsty. He sat down at Jacob’s well. When a Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water, Jesus asked her for a drink of water. This began an amazing conversation between two astute theologians — both thirsty, though, for different things. Jesus tells her at one point that he could give her Living Water. It is as if Jesus is ready to pour out the Spirit right then and there.

“We all were given one Spirit to drink.” Unlike having to scour the globe in search for Carmen San Diego, the Holy Spirit is right here, right now. The Holy Spirit is present everywhere — creating a thirst for peace, joy, justice, love, faith, hope and belonging. This Spirit also brings us into relationships where we are transformed and healed, quenching these deep thirsts. Then the same Spirit sends us out to participate in Christ’s sharing Living Water for the healing of the world, beginning right here in Seeley Lake.