Pentecost is a celebration of the Holy Spirit. The light of Christ within is precious and needs care and attention. Anyone who has been camping knows there is work involved in keeping the fire going. As David prayed in Psalm 51:11–12:
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“Cast me not away from Your presence;
take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
and sustain me with a willing spirit.” 
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Nurturing the flame: this is a shift of attention from external to internal. For us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds we must spend the time and do the work allowing truth to speak to us, in us, and then be made manifest through us.

Taking a cue from Shawn Ginwright’s book The Four Pivots; Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves, we will look mostly at reimagining ourselves. Speakers Gabrielle Bailey, Kelly Kellum, Michael Sherman, and Scott Wagoner will invite us to reflect internally on four areas of personal spiritual care: awareness, vision, connection, and presence. 

Often, we focus so much on what everyone else is doing, on the rightness or wrongness of others’ actions, that we are not able to see the truth of our own spiritual reality. We are so busy speaking truth to power that we have neglected the power we possess in ourselves of a healed heart and transformed life. How do we shift from an external view of power to an internal view of power? 

Often, individuals and faith communities focus so much on fixing the problem that we are not able to see the creative possibilities before us. What shifts do we need to make to move from solving problems to seeing possibilities? 

Often, we focus so much on striking a deal to win now that we are unable to see long-term consequences. What shifts in connection do we need to make which value and acknowledge ‘that of God’ in each other? 

Often, we focus so much on crossing items off our to-do lists that we are not able to simply be. How do we shift perspective, so we are able to move joyously between accountability and grace, knowing we are holy and beloved?