Thursday Thoughts
“The Wild Goose”
Ordinary, everyday routines don’t necessarily feel spiritual. But perhaps they are the most significant factors in our lifelong journeys of spiritual formation and transformation. I hope you’ll join me today for some thoughts about “ordinary days of Shalom.”
A statue of wild geese in Dublin, Ireland.
One of the most intriguing metaphors of Celtic spirituality to me is the way in which the Holy Spirit is envisioned. Rather than the metaphor of the Holy Spirit as a gentle dove, the Celts portrayed the vital member of the Trinity as a wild goose.
Since Pentecost Sunday is this coming Sunday, May 24, I thought readers might enjoy considering this Celtic Christian tradition.
Rather than only preaching against the pagan culture, missionaries such as Patrick, Columba, Aiden, and Columbanus attempted to make connections using symbols and traditions common to the Celts to illustrate core beliefs of Christianity. One classic example is Patrick explaining the mysterious concept of the Holy Trinity by using the familiar three-leaf clover. Each petal represented a person of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--Three-in-One, One-in-Three, the Blessed Holy Trinity.
I appreciated the clarification of Steve Lilly, a member of the pilgrimage group, in his presentation during our recent Holy Island pilgrimage.
The pre-Christian [Celtic] tradition was treated not as a void to be filled but as an imperfect, yet genuine reaching toward the God whom the Gospel named.
https://www.lindisfarne-scriptorium.co.uk
While on the Holy Island, I visited the Lindisfarne Scriptorium, featuring the beautiful art of Mary Fleeson, a Celtic artist who has painted lovely depictions of the “Wild Goose.” Fleeson says,
The Wild Goose tells a different side of the Holy Spirit. To begin with, wild geese aren’t controllable, you can’t restrain a wild goose and bend it to your will. They’re raucous and loud, [and] unlike the sweet and calming cooing of a dove, a goose’s call is strong, challenging, strident and unnerving - and just a bit scary. In much the same way, the Spirit of God can be demanding and unsettling, and at times even a little scary. (www.rebeccafriedlander.com)
I love the depiction of God’s Spirit as a gentle dove. During some of my painful life seasons, I needed comfort, and oftentimes, I have felt the solace my soul longed for was found in the Spirit of divine gentleness.
As I consider, however, the way the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, I agree a “wild goose” metaphor is appropriate. I imagine the disciples of Jesus needed this dramatic encounter to prepare them for the mission on which they were called to embark.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4 NIV)
Wild geese on a mission in Idaho
I hope these insights about the “Wild Goose” will provide some food for thought on the upcoming Pentecost Sunday.
Blessings on your journey,
