a Holy Spirit conduit

Here is the responsorial psalm from today's Mass.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

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This seems like a psalm written just for me. Do you feel that way about the psalms sometimes? This particular one echoes what is always in my heart. My heart cries out to God with joy every minute. After all, it is an awesome God that I have! Can you imagine how beautiful the world would be if all the earth cried out to God with joy? And, we did it with great relish and loud proclamation?

An interesting phenomenon continues to happen over and over in my life. Something pops into my head upon which it seems I must act and, when I do, beautiful things come of it. I am convinced the Holy Spirit puts these things into my head as a way for me to be a conduit for others' happiness. Let me give some examples.

Sometimes, when I'd be in a counseling session with a client at the pregnancy center, I'd hear myself saying something that was exactly the thing to say that changed the client's mind about having an abortion. I'd be saying the words and wonder from where they were coming. Other counselors told me the same thing would happen to them, more than just an isolated incident or two. Later, the clients would bring their babies in for us to see and express their great joy at having had their children rather than aborting them.

One time, a friend asked me to be with her for a court hearing regarding custody of her son. Her husband and she were separated and she had gotten a temporary restraining order against him. As her lawyer explained, she had a choice to ask for the restraining order to continue (with supervised visitation) or she could drop it. I found myself telling her that she knew he wouldn't harm their son and the restraining order should be dropped. Now, I did not know her husband except through the things she'd told me about him. I was astounded by my "audacity" to say such a bold thing with so little to go on to make such a statement. I heard myself saying the words and wondering why I was saying them. As a result, she chose to drop the restraining order. The lawyer told us after the hearing was over that her husband visibly relaxed when he heard it would be dropped. My friend has told me over and over since then that moment was the beginning of them reconciling and working to repair their marriage. Three years later, it's stronger than it's ever been. She credits me. I say it wasn't me at all. It was the Holy Spirit working through me.

This past Friday, I was thinking about a very close friend of mine. In our last conversation a couple days earlier, she'd told me she was concerned about something regarding her work. Into my head came the thought that I MUST call her and tell her not to be afraid. I thought it was odd but I decided it couldn't hurt to say this to her. So, I called her and said, "I'm supposed to tell you 'Be not afraid'." When she responded, I could tell from her voice that something was not right. I kidded her, asking if she was still sleeping. (It was going toward noon!) She answered, no, she was working in her garden and crying. She said her beloved son was going to be going to Iraq on Saturday morning and she was beside herself with grief and worry. Little did I know! (He was originally supposed to have gone the week before. The fact that she didn't mention that he had gone should have been a clue to me but I thought that maybe she didn't want to talk about it.) She and I marveled at the message I'd been called to impart upon her. She told me how much she appreciated my call, that it had calmed her down. Clearly, THAT was the Holy Spirit!

I believe God was talking to me regarding expanding piano lessons the week I was fired, too. This week, I received a call from a piano teacher who lives nearby. She's going to Haiti in August to be a missionary and has 43 students who will need a teacher! I consider her call a blessing from God and affirmation that I DID hear Him correctly back then.

God is very intimately involved in my life these days. I'm beginning to see how vital it is to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit within myself. I continue to pray for an open heart so that I will always hear what He has to say and do what needs to be done for others' welfare. It's very beautiful how all of us--God, me and everyone who comes into my life--are connected. We can be go-betweens for one another and God. I love that idea!

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For the sake of clarity, please note that I do not believe, in these situations, I was God's little automaton, a being without the ability to freely act. I believe the Holy Spirit inspired my thoughts and words. I chose freely to say and do what I did. In the case of my counseling, I always asked God to be with me, to give me the words to say that would make a difference in my clients' lives. There is a great beauty and practicality when one is involved in an intimate relationship with God.