Three Pieces of Fish: A Reflection on the Charismatic Way, the Life with the Spirit

Once there lived this man, brilliant in his logical thinking, trained by the top-tier theologians of his day, proud, self-righteous, fiercely protective of his culture and his religious beliefs. He was on the path to a life of power and comfort, probably on the path to becoming a professor, a political leader. But God literally knocked him off his horse and asked him to follow. From that day on, he coexisted and cohabited with God. He was led and guided by the Spirit of God in his thinking and doing and was transformed into a new being. He became humble, willing to be the lowest of the lowest, saw visions of God, visited heaven in this life, changed into a disciple and a follower of God from being a fiercely religious man. He wrote some of the most revered theology that stood the test of two thousand years; stood up to and challenged kings, raised people from the dead, was beaten, thrown over the wall to die, was imprisoned- a life of being burned and being in the middle of action. He not only understood God as well as any human did, but also understood the centrality of agape love as a driver of life and our being. Became one of the most influential teachers to 2.3 billion people that live today, and countless more through the ages. Behold, a charismatic life lived through the Spirit of God.

I have three pieces of fish that I bring to the table of life. These three pieces of fish neither have the power to feed a multitude, nor the power to help me live a holy, example life for others to see and follow. As I submit these three pieces of fish, my life, to be blessed by God, and walk in the power of the Spirit, not necessarily in the dramatic fashion above, but even in a slow, gradual process of co-laboring with God, then the three pieces of fish, my life starts to become bright, alive and beautiful. The Spirit will sustain me in love, joy, peace, patience, and may even nourish five, ten, or even twenty more through my life. This is the life with the Spirit, the charismatic way.

As an aside, although the streams are described individually, I can see them working together. Perhaps the contemplative gazing upon God leading to life through the Spirit, which in turn enables paths to holiness, social justice, living an incarnational life, living the Word centered life.