Jedi JesusSample

The Force

I grew up in a Christian home. I have read the Bible cover to cover. I am on a daily pursuit to deepen my relationship with God, fuelled by discipline and desire. However, this past year when my son asked me, point blank—"Mommy, what's the Holy Spirit?"—I was stumped.

How do I explain the Spirit of God—His presence, His power, His protection—to a five-year-old? I wondered.

This big, important, unanswered question was suspended in the air between us like a bubble as I paused—panicking—trying to formulate something substantial to say. I took too long. Typical of a kindergartner, his attention was quickly caught by something else—and "Pop!" Admittedly, I was equally relieved and disappointed for missing the opportunity to engage in this pivotal conversation. I prayed that I would be given another chance and be better prepared the next time.

I later remembered an exchange that was sort of like this in the Bible. Through the writing of John, we get to eavesdrop on a covert conversation that occurred under the cover of nightfall between Jesus and Nicodemus—a Jewish religious leader who surely should have known his Scriptures backwards and forwards. But even a learned man like him had questions. Jesus explained the Spirit this way:

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8 AMP).

Snuggled up quietly on the couch watching The Empire Strikes Back with my family, I observed Yoda explain the Force to Luke in a similar, patient manner:

"For my ally is the Force and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes."

Suddenly, I grabbed the remote and paused the movie. "That's it!" I shouted—interrupting the quiet moment and causing alarm on the faces of my husband and children.

"The Force! The Wind! The Holy Spirit!" I jumped up in excitement.

"Okay?" my husband said with a confused where-are-you-going-with-this expression.

"Luke can't see the Force, right?"

"Right."

"And we can't see the wind."

"Okay."

"But we know it's real. We can see its power and its effects. We can feel it."

"Uh-huh," they all agreed.

"It's the same with the Holy Spirit. Just like the wind. Just like the Force—we can't see the Spirit, but we can feel Him and the effects of His presence and power. So, we know He's there. He's real!"

To the relief of my family, I flopped back down on the couch with a smile of satisfaction—the big bubble question had finally been answered.

After a few moments of silence, my son asked, "Umm, Mom... can we push play now?"

"Sure, buddy," I answered, feeling a bit foolish and frustrated, wondering if they cared or had even heard me.

A few weeks later, my kindergartner was fussing about brushing his teeth. Rather than raise my voice (again), I calmly raised my hand and moved it through the air—Obi-Wan-style—and decreed, "You will go to the bathroom now and brush your teeth." He smiled, rolled his big green eyes at me, and got up. Starting towards the bathroom, he said with the confident assurance of a five-year-old, "You know, Mom, the Force isn't real."

"Oh?" I questioned.

He turned and looked at me from the doorway. "Yeah,"—he said matter-of-factly—"it's actually the Holy Spirit!"

Reflect:

What personal evidence do you have in your life that bolsters your belief in the Holy Spirit's presence, power, or protection? Recall and write down an answered prayer, a perfectly timed word of encouragement, or some other confirmation you've encountered to fuel your faith today.

Let's Pray:

Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to live in me and work through me. Holy Spirit, help me to know your presence, power, and protection more and more. I ask that you speak to me today in a personal way so that any doubts I have about your presence in my life will be silenced. In Jesus' name, Amen.