Spirit To Spirit
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“Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:6-7 (NIV)
As I began to write today, seven male cardinals landed in the yard near the bird feeder. Each day for the past several weeks at least one male cardinal has landed in the yard during breakfast or lunch. For many of us, the red cardinal is a spiritual sign that our loved one is attempting to contact us. Cardinals give us the assurance we are not alone. We feel a spirit-to-spirit connection and a sense of comfort and peace when a cardinal enters our visual space. Many times, this happens when we need the reassurance that somehow our loved one is with us.
For me, the hawk has been the symbol for this spiritual connection. My husband, Dave always spotted hawks on our travels. I have a framed picture of a hawk that we purchased years ago. It is one of three main pictures I have kept through all my moves and downsizing. Dave’s nickname in high school football was “Hawk” because his eyes were always on the ball. As I travel now, I always see a hawk, and I feel safe and protected. Because Dave was a State Trooper, I believe I see the hawks the most when I travel giving me the assurance I need to make the journey.
In a recent conversation, someone stated that she just wanted to know if her husband was aware of what was going on in her life and wanted to feel a connection to him. As I reflected on her need, I was drawn to Jesus’ conversation with his disciples before he was crucified. Jesus had compassion on his dear friends, and I am sure his eyes were filled with tears as he told them he was going away. Some of us remember those last conversations when we knew our loved one was dying. We each tried to stay brave for the other, but tears were in our eyes and hearts. We did not want to say “Good-bye” and many of us said, “See you later.” Our hearts were breaking. Jesus recognized the grief and heartache of his disciples and gave them the promise, “I am sending a Counselor to be with you.” That Counselor, Helper, Advocate is the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Jesus that dwells within each believer.
Our souls never die and go to Heaven to be with Jesus. Our bodies are part of this world and stay here. We receive a new Heavenly body. So what about our spirit? Our soul is the heart or essence of who we are. Our spirit is our presence. When we think of our loved one, we remember his spirit of life and joy. We remember her spirit of passion for relationships and adventures. The spirit of our loved one is what lives on in us and through us.
So if Jesus goes away but leaves his spirit, I believe that when our loved one goes away, his/her spirit remains with those whom he/she has been in relationship. It is a presence that is with us. We do not always feel the Holy Spirit’s presence, but our faith tells us the Holy Spirit is with us. This is trust. At times, the powerful presence fills us and flows in and through us, but most of the time the Holy Spirit is a quiet constant presence within us giving us hope, comfort, awareness of God’s active presence, and a sense of peace. There are physical reminders of God’s Spirit through worship, prayer, songs, a butterfly and even a cardinal or a hawk. These physical reminders also occur with our loved one – pictures, songs, possessions, places, and cardinals. Sometimes we feel the presence and sometimes we need to just trust that the presence is with us. I believe in this spiritual connection. It gives me peace and comfort knowing that God connects spirit to spirit.
