Guidance - Pastor's Pen for 30th August 2026

I've recently watched the most recent movie adaptations of Frank Herbert's 1965 Sci Fi epic novel, Dune. I had been meaning to do so for a while. There is a substance found on the planet Arrakis, derived from the bile of juvenile sand worms and called 'the water of life.' It is bright blue, and deadly poison to all but those prepared and chosen for spiritual leadership, who are made ready to drink it. Once consumed, and having survived doing so, the recipient receives the gift of accessing ancestral memories and the uncommon ability to see, or prophesy the future, at least to a degree. However, this is only for the select few and an expected messiah figure.

How different this seems to to the New Testament idea of the Holy Spirit, who John variously describes as the Advocate, or Spirit of Truth. In the teaching of Jesus according to John, the Holy Spirit is available to all the disciples, not just those with the power, bringing conviction into the world and guidance to the believers. Jesus said; "I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:7 NRSV)

Many of us experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, but not in some bright blue, mind and soul altering metamorphosis. Rather, we receive and experience the Spirit's guidance and comfort as part of a life-long and faithful discipleship in the everyday. We ponder scripture, and the Holy Spirit illuminates the words in a certain way. We might pray, and God brings us into the path of someone wiser. We 'ask, seek and knock.' The guidance is usually gentle and sometimes we only see it with the benefit of hindsight. May we continue to pray; "Come Holy Spirit!"