The Holy Spirit as the awe-inspiring power of life and of love is a reality with which every human being is familiar, whatever name we give to it.

Spirit is the very aliveness of our life. This holds true for every one of us. We differ only by the degree to which we open ourselves to this power. Fear tends to block and close our access to “life in fullness” (John 10:10) for which Jesus Christ stands.

Life is always a gradual process, however, and we must respect the pace of its movement. The seed needs time to grow. If we patiently cultivate courage and openness, we will become more and more aware of the Spirit within us that allows us to know God, love God, and thrive in God, because this power quickens our intellect, our will, and our emotions.

from Deeper Than Words