I often ask the Holy Spirit to work with people, to make them aware of his presence. So in anticipation of Pentecost Sunday this Sunday, I want to reflect on how the Holy Spirit might be working at on hospital on one day.

Reminding us of what Jesus taught.  This one of the things that Jesus says the Holy Spirit will do. It was an important job. As the Bible was being written, as John was recording the words we’ll read on Sunday from John 15 and 16, it was the Holy Spirit helping him think, bringing to mind the words from that Thursday evening. So when we’re in a conversation and someone accurately remembers something from the Bible, I think that’s the Holy Spirit working.

And we can ask for this reminding, too. As we study the Bible, as we engage in conversations, saying “Holy Spirit, help us know the heart of God,” makes sense.

Providing momentary glimpses of direction. Maybe you’ve had this experience. When we are walking down a hall, when we are in a conversation, there is the tiniest sense of “go this way” or “don’t go there.”

I’d think of those as nothing or lucky or coincidence, but for this: a few times a month the nudge to go this way instead of that leads to being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.

Isaiah talked about people turning back to God and God being a teacher. Isaiah says, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:20).

We often consult God for guidance about what we believe are the big things. But we can ask God to guide our steps, which can take us to the moments HE thinks are the big things.

A presence when no one else is around. Hospitals can be alone places. They can be lonely places. Those aren’t always the same.  We can be lonely when we are around other people. We can be alone and not feel lonely at all. And the Holy Spirit is present is us always, for those who are following Jesus.

Different people are aware of the Spirit’s presence in different ways and with different intensities. We can fall into the trap of believing that simple because that person has this overwhelming sense of euphoria all the time, I should too. And that’s simply not true. 

But we can ask and listen. And we can expect to become more and more aware that we are not alone; God is here.