After the Outpouring

There are divine moments in which the sacred breaks in upon us, the holy breaks into our ordinary, and what cannot normally be seen and experienced is suddenly so visible and evident that it cannot restrained or contained by what we know as physcial boundaries.  This is what is happening now at Asbury Universitiy as an ourpouring of the Holy Spirit has brought a great moment of revival.  While so many who are unable to attend are watching it through the online media, it is surely something altogether different to experience it where the veil between earth and glory has become nearly transparent.   

The gospel writers wrote of such a moment when they told the story of the Mt. of Transfiguration.  Peter, James, and John hiked up a mountain with Jesus to pray and suddenly they were overwhelmed with divine glory.  Jesus' appearance was transformed by that brilliant glory and the veil between heaven and earth became so thin they witnessed the presence of Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus.  Before the whole holy scenario faded from view, the three disciples asked Jesus if they could build dwellings and stay.  Of course, they could not.  They would have to return to life after the holy moment on the mountain.   

The same kind of experience awaits those who are overwhelmed by this divine moment of holy intervention.  As blessed as everyone is who is touched by this revival, as overwhelmed as they are from standing in a place where the veil between here and there has been made so thin, and as much as they might like to hold on to the feelings and the sense of divine presence, they too will find that life continues not on the mountain, but in the valley, in the streets and roads of the communities, and in the places which speak of  everyday life.  It is the way the Spirit works.  We are blessed with the moments that are being cast upon us through this outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Asbury, but at some point we will be called to carry with us into the world the spiritual realities which have transformed our life in this extraordinary holy moment.