It might be something we have in common with the opossums that "go dead" in the face of danger. It is a trick that does work for them sometimes, but hysteria is a dysfunction for people, when in the face of present danger our minds may "freeze" or not function in a normal efficient way, and we may do things which are irrational.

Early in aviation it was found that a student pilot could "freeze on the stick". I remember one accident report where the pilot had changed fuel tanks to a half-full tank and his motor quit. He crash-landed. He told the inspectors that he had checked the fuel selector several times and he had it on the correct tank, and that he was the victim of a faulty fuel gauge. But the inspectors selected the correct tank, and the engine started and ran just fine. He had been the victim of hysteria.

This happened to me the first time I was lost. Flying into Rockford, I had planned to pick up a leg of the Rockford radio navigation range when I was a half-hour out. But when the time came, there was no range to be found. I tried and tried without success, and when I should have been over the airport, it also was not there. I felt very distressed. I flew around for about 20 minutes trying to put myself on the map with no success. Every town I came upon had a river and a railroad. Then by grace of God, ("dumb luck" as many would say), I flew directly over the Rockford airport. I tuned in their radio range and the beam was there loud and clear. I had been a victim of hysteria. After that I made a study of being lost. I practised orienting on the radio navigation aid. Being lost became sort of a fun thing. I knew that I would find my way out so I never felt myself in distress.

I believe that the insidious presence of hysteria is quite common in everyday life. The well-being of the abiding Holy Spirit predisposes competent decisions. It gives us the ability to deal effectively with confrontations or crisis situations. A sure indication to a pilot that he/she is lost is that the compass is wrong. Although the pilot's instinct is otherwise, he must use the seemingly faulty compass heading, and then a funny thing happens: after a while the world turns around to the compass direction.

Sometimes in our church life we do not feel like going to worship, or supporting a project. Sometimes we instinctively dislike the advice of our church friends or minister, but we should know that our best interest is served by attending to good counsel and orienting ourselves to Christian living. Our church and our Christian friends do have a profound function in our continuing well-being, and all of this centres in the presence of the Holy Spirit, in whom we have learned to place our trust. It is our paradigm for successful navigating in life that we should practice continually.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your providence, for your love, for being with us at all times, and for the community of your children. May we continue in the faith, in the love you have given to us, and the fellowship and love of your church. Amen.

I would so like to know what Jesus said when he returned thanks for the food. What one should say for grace at the table has always been a little problem for me. I remember well two opposite views from the long past. One good old neighbour in our farm community liked to comment that at no place in the bible did it say he should "talk to his plate". At the other extreme was an illustrious old lady of the good society. She was a wonderful, kind, Christian person of strong personality. She was an accomplished hostess and an excellent cook. It was a privilege and a pleasure to a guest at her home. But there was one little contingency: she always asked one of her guests to say grace. It was well to be prepared for this as we knew we would be graded on our performance. Always there was a Mrs somebody or other who "always said a beautiful grace." There are as many styles as there are people. There is the modern pastor who touches a father's heart with a blessing to the family; the old style evangelist who bespeaks the salvation of those present with a good pulpit voice the Lord is bound to hear; and then there was my late brother-in-law who spoke a rapid-fire Yankee dialect in tone so low that only the Lord might hear. I never heard a word of it, but I am sure the Lord's computer could decode it.

Somewhere near the bottom of the scale I sit with my short, quite prosaic repetitive offering. I got away with it when the kiddies were small, but when they became articulate from school they would begin asking, "Don't you get tired of saying the same thing over and over?" My efforts to create immortal words always lacked enthusiasm. I think that the greater is our perceived God, the less one might be saying to him. Have I more to say than "Thank you"? And I believe that the Holy Spirit does always hear a parent's strident inner prayer for their children which I could never begin to articulate. I think as the family has grown up and taken their place with their own family responsibilities they are less critical of their old dad, and perhaps more perceptive of the person of God.

Studying the biblical account of the Lord's Last Supper, I believe that He did not use the occasion to preach a sermon. If he had, someone would have used that as the form of presenting some element of faith. Rather His thanks expressed to the Father appears as more of a salutary or summary comment. As such it would be quite routine and repetitive, yet most assuredly appropriate.

Prayer: Our Lord and Heavenly Father, we thank you this day for the love you do give us. We thank you for the Holy Spirit among us, and for the good things you provide for the sustenance of your children. Amen.

Elijah had fled from Jezebel for his life, to Mount Sinai, and had cried to the Lord for help. A God who could save him from such a powerful despot, he would associate with fearsome phenomena such as fire or earthquake. But it was in the calm after the storms that God spoke to Elijah in a whisper.

There is an illustration "closer to home" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. After the maestro has been building up to the Ode to Joy chorus, one is waiting for the powerful culmination. But the maestro brings it in as a whisper. This always seems like my moment.

In our worship routines we like to be impressed. Our minister should speak with a strong articulate voice. She should command our attention and inspire and lead us. Prayers should be carefully designed, and sermons insightful. A pipe organ is good, and a choir of 24 is much better than a choir of 6. Or we might have a line of microphones and guitars. We would like our service to be powerful. But there is a contrast in our communion service. Here there is little place for exhortations and homilies. The scripture is read and the elements are served. "This is my body broken for you." In the silence of the church, we all partake, each person in their own way, expectant and attentive to their communion with the Lord. At this time I believe the Lord whispers to us.

I believe that in our daily life, the Holy Spirit whispers to us. It is always quiet and unobtrusive, personal and private. It can be so low profile that we might not be even aware of it. Our spiritual enrichment may be imperceptible, like the movement of the hour hand on a clock, or the daily growth of a young child, but in this we obtain our spiritual rebirth and maturity as with the infallible passage of time.

I know that it is always wrong to presume that one's own Christian experience is typical or normative. It might be that our individual experiences are fully unique. But I am convinced that to each person in our Christian community, the partaking of communion is a personal and profound experience.

Prayer: Heavenly father, we thank you for our communion with you in and through the Holy Spirit. We would grow nearer to you in the passing years, and grow stronger in our faith from day to day. Amen.

When I was overseas in World War II, I knew that my mother prayed for her son every day, a matter I regarded rather cynically. Her son was not in great danger unless one can die from boredom. But it was not that simple.

On my return home, I spent several days with my preacher cousin in the city. I had little regard for his God if he existed. The devastation of World War II says little for a big benevolent fellow in control of things. My cousin took part in a mission in the skid row district, so when it was his turn to hold forth, I tagged along with the pastor and his wife. A short sermon was followed by an appropriate hymn, "Are you weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care… take it to the Lord in prayer." I may have been somewhat destablized that morning, what with standing beside a beautiful lady and singing a hymn. Then too there can be that unguarded moment when a window may open in one's own defence. There in the company of the rejects of society, only I knew that I had much in common with the misfits assembled there. Most soldiers made an easy transition to civilian life; I did not. Halfway through the hymn there was a change in the sound, and I stopped singing. I became aware of an ambience in the room which seemed to penetrate the depth of my being, a strong, calm presence, comforting, healing, reassuring, forgiving and reconciling.

Although I never spoke to anyone about the incident for many years, it has been a central focal point these fifty years as I have contemplated things spiritual. Very many things that had puzzled me fit into place as I came to realize that the Holy Spirit had been working in my life for years before I realized it, in response to my mother's prayers in those war years. Although my case is atypical, my experience of conversion was when I became aware of the distinct place the Holy Spirit had already taken in my life.

Prayer: Our heavenly Father, forgive our dullness and slowness of faith. Enlighten our minds, that we may ever be aware of your Holy Spirit within our lives. We pray that you will renew our lives, strengthen our belief, and draw us close to you. Holy Spirit, abide with us. Amen.

Little Sue is standing before the Christmas tree in tinselled delight. More than the tinsel and lights, she sees the presents there that have her name on them. It is a good feeling, because she is an important person, beloved and well favoured. Her parents trust in the Lord that as she matures she will receive in a like way the wondrous spiritual gifts of God and know she is beloved of the Lord and spiritually well favoured.

But her parents wish to be sure that Sue does not grow up to be a selfish girl. So she must be taught to share her toys, to do unto others as she would have them do unto her, and to know about the good Samaritan. All of this is scriptural and good. But in the parable of the lamps, the Lord has cautioned us about a subtle process, which can appear to be charitable or reasonable, can forestall the salvation which is our spiritual endowment. As Sue takes her place, she must diligently receive unto herself the free gift of grace and salvation, and spiritual stature, which must take priority over any seemingly good or charitable pursuit. Then, the opportunities to serve others will take on new and fuller meaning, as she approaches her young life from a position of maturity and strength in the Spirit of Christ.

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, how beautiful it is to behold the unfolding of young lives within the realm of grace. We pray for those young people who do not know grace, that we may be diligent to help them, and that those who labour in this work will be inspired and strengthened in their mission. Amen.

Even this pair of laid-back retirees needs the Lord's providence. How he does sustain us through the Holy Spirit in the community of the church! And so each Sunday, as my wife Millie and I attend church, our ancient organ speaks; the choir takes voice and we join in the hymns; there is a learned sermon, and Christian fellowship. In all, we are aware of the Holy Spirit functioning in our lives as we quietly wait upon the Lord. It is such a simple, natural process. God has provided for this in his creation so it does not require high profile persuasion, or sensational preaching, only a simple receptive attitude. The process is so uncomplicated it seems profound. The Lord gives great importance to the biblical statement that we must receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, as it is repeated in three of the gospels. Our one year-old granddaughter gives a perfect illustration of the correct stance her grandparents must have in our church service. When our ancient organ speaks, and the choir takes voice, she will clap her hands and "sing" along. Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. And so, with that approach, we can grow and be sustained when we attend our regular church service.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Enter our lives; be present within us, and grant us the ability to be one with our Lord. Amen.