Fire, Fathers and Finding the Barbecue Tongs
June arrives with long evenings, gardens tempting us out, and at least one person confidently announcing, “I’ll just do burgers for everyone,” moments before discovering the barbecue has not been cleaned since last August.
It is also the month in which Pentecost often falls and during which we celebrate Father’s Day — which, when you think about it, both involve people trying to hold things together under pressure.
Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Church. The disciples, once frightened and uncertain, were suddenly filled with courage and joy through the Holy Spirit. Tongues of fire appeared above their heads, and they went out into the world speaking so everyone could understand them.
There is something wonderfully hopeful about Pentecost. It reminds us that God does not wait for us to become perfect, polished, or particularly organised before using us. The disciples were ordinary people: sometimes confused, often worried, occasionally spectacularly missing the point. Yet God filled them with energy, purpose, and courage. Which is encouraging news for the rest of us who occasionally lose our reading glasses while wearing them!
And then comes Father’s Day, when we give thanks for fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, godfathers, father figures, and all those patient souls who have ever uttered the timeless phrase: “Don’t touch that switch.” Fathers have many gifts:
- The confidence to assemble anything without feeling the need to read the instructions.
- A deep belief that all car journeys can be improved by taking “a shortcut.”
- The mysterious conviction that making the television louder somehow improves the picture quality.
But behind the humour is something important. Fatherhood, at its best, reflects God’s steady love: protective, encouraging, forgiving, dependable. Not flashy. Not perfect. Just present.
And that is one thing that connects Pentecost and Father’s Day: The Holy Spirit did not arrive to make the disciples impressive. The Spirit came to make them faithful, loving, brave, and present to one another. Our world does not need flashy gestures. It needs kindness. Patience. Listening ears. Encouragement. Someone willing to put the kettle on and say, “Tell me what’s happened.” That, too, is holy work. Work the Holy Spirit inspires us towards.
So this June, may we welcome the Spirit’s fire into our lives – not necessarily as dramatic flames descending from heaven, but perhaps as renewed warmth, gentleness, humour, and hope, and putting our trust in God, our loving heavenly Father.
And if all else fails, may we at least remember where we put the barbecue tongs!
Wishing everyone a joyful and Spirit-filled June.
With every blessing
Rev’d Andrew Hiscox