The Dance
The Active Presence of the Holy Spirit, Week 2
By Andrea Lingle

You know those moments in life that expose you for the faker you are?

I have no clear understanding of the Trinity.

There. I said it.

I have an understanding of God as an unknowable entity to whose operations we apply different names.

God is...

One who Creates. I have dug my fingers into the soil of the earth and been filled with cosmic wonder.
One who Inspires. I have heard the whisper of, “me too,” when I have felt the most lost.
One who Conspires. I have felt my breath link with the divine breath.

Or...

I have an understanding of God as an unknowable community to whose members we apply different operations.

God is...

Three who Create. I have dug my fingers into the soil of the earth and been filled with cosmic wonder.
Three who Inspire. I have heard the whisper of, “me too,” when I have felt the most lost.
Three who Conspire. I have felt my breath link with the divine breath.

There. I said it.

I have no clear understanding of the Trinity.

Finally.

Because I once did. And it’s taken me a long time to break myself of the habit.

But perhaps we can edge into both a discussion of the Trinity and then the Spirit through metaphor.

Larry Duggins has this to say about the Trinity in his upcoming book Together:

The deep integration of the Persons of the Trinity is sometimes described by the Greek word perichoresis, which many define using words like inter-penetration or complete comingling. The idea is that the Persons of the Trinity are still individuals, but are so completely immersed in one another through love that they are one. My favorite image of perichoresis is that of a circle dance where the dancing individuals whirl and swing in such rhythm and unity that it seems as if they are a single living entity. Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer joined together in a dance of love – separate, but together.

The concept of the Trinity is much more than a bit of Christian theological trivia. The incarnation, the crucifixion, and the resurrection all take on new meaning when seen through the lens of the Trinity. In fact, it may be the most important single concept to appreciate in Christianity. The understanding that community – three together as one – is essential to the nature of God informs and enlightens practically every aspect of being a Christian person. God loves us because it is the very nature of God to love. God wants us to love God because it is the very nature of God to love. God wants us to love each other because it is the very nature of God to love.

It is into the center of this nature of love that we must press to experience both the Trinity and the Spirit. It is a double-fisted journey. In one hand we must hold firmly to unknowing, and in the other we must hold firmly to the nature of love. Anything that deviates too far from love and unknowing with regard to the Spirit is probably saying too much. Since unknowing can be unnerving, I will venture two metaphors through which I have experienced the Spirit.

The Breath The Womb

Do we dare?

Invitation to Missional Mindfulness:

What are the metaphors that speak to you about the Spirit?
How do they allow you to hold your truth of God's nature of love?
Are you able to enter into unknowing?