Today is Pentecost. Pentecost is more meaningful to me than either Christmas or Easter. To me, the meaning of the Pentecost story universalizes the experience of the divine world intersecting with the material world. In the story, at a gathering of people from different cultures, religions, and linguistic backgrounds, Spirit intervenes and allows them all to understand one another. What a wonderful metaphor! The flames of fire appearing above the heads of the people in the gathering burned the sense of division out of them so they could truly listen to one another.
Can an atheist listen and respect a theist? Can a theist do the same? Can a Christian fundamentalist respect a member of the Christian “left” and vice versa? Can a Democrat and Republican truly listen to one another?
The Pentecost story is one that reminds us that it’s possible to dive beneath differences among us and recognize our shared humanity/divinity. Here’s wishing one and all a flaming Pentecost!
nancyjfinleysd 
Lovely!
Linda