Pentecost

It's a good sixty years since I first heard about Pentecost and the coming of the Spirit in tongues of fire appearing above the heads of the gathered brethren.  I was also made aware of the speaking in tongues: people from all points of the Roman Empire who heard the apostles and understood them in their own language.

Only today thinking on this, did I realise the effect of the tongues, "tongues of fire". Did they also speak with fiery words, words which would enflame their listeners? Were their human tongues empowered to give a new spirit to the people? The metaphor of a burning question, fanning the embers, breathing new life into the fire is all there.  It was inflammatory news which would light its way across the Empire. This week I see a flaming torch being carried through the streets to proclaim the coming of the Olympic Games.

"Oh for a muse of fire which would ascend the brightest heaven of invention."

Even Mr Shakespeare  called for inspiration. 

Draw your own metaphors and allusions. Today is a commemoration of inspiration.

JL May 27 12:10