Spirit to Spirit
There’s something about that sound—the low, expectant rumble under the hood, like a tiger’s rattle before its roar. Eight cylinders of potential, just waiting for a stretch of open road. For me, that image sparks something deep, almost primal—a throwback to the muscle cars of 1970’s. It doesn’t really matter which one, Chevelle, Mustang, Challenger...it’s the feeling that gets me every time.
There is a reason why some of us invest so heavily into a connection with our cars. The more it’s modified the more we identify with our ride, right? Even the simple experience of selecting a car, in America at least, reveals some expression of personal identity.
Sporty.
Sophisticated.
Economical.
4X4.
Green.
Pink.
Big.
Sleeper.
Beast.
Mini.
Boxy.
Practical.
What do you drive? Why did you choose it? Seriously—drop me a comment about this; others will also enjoy what you share.
Our experience of connection with a vehicle, as I’ve seen this in both men and women, points to a deeper aspect of being Image-bearers of God.
I don’t think that our connection with our vehicles and our innate bent to express ourselves is a stretch.
Stay with me on this…
Is the longing for some kind of a connection offering personal flair, or power, or freedom even a little bit like the longing for real, deep connection between others—other image-bearers—humans, created by God with the capacity to know and be known?
I understand that this may be really obvious to some. Like water is to fish, it may be so familiar that it goes undetected.
God designed us with an inner drive to communicate, to connect, and not just on the surface, but in a meaningful, even a spiritual way. The Apostle Paul, writing to the believers in Corinth, called this kind of connection “spiritual.” Developing the idea of how God has revealed himself—from his Spirit to our spirit, he writes:
No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit,
and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.
And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit),
so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
(1 Cor. 2:11-12, New Living Translation)
It’s part of how we are alike and represent the God who made us. Spirit to spirit. We use language, but beneath the languages of voice and body flows a self-disclosure and an exchange that can potentially bring lasting change. Thugs express power to intimidate, mothers express love to comfort. I write these sentences to encourage and attract you to engage with me and my thoughts. We are more than biological entities sharing space having developed abilities to interact with others of our kind. We are God’s image-bearers, talkers by design.
Pause…
How have you most recently revealed yourself by such common expression? Surely there is a range of communication levels. If you have kids, when did you last recognize that you were in a special conversation with one of them? In your marriage? With your best friend?
Back to cars.
So, maybe that rumble under the hood is just a faint echo of something even deeper—our shared design for connection and purpose. Hopefully it has served as a jumping off point that has piqued your interest about connecting.
This is what the 3rd Cup imagery is about—choosing to stay, pouring a third cup, allowing the conversation to take you places you had no idea even existed. During the first cup pleasantries were exchanged and general updating accomplished. While the second was being poured you realized that you were glad your schedule allowed for this time together. A deeper topic was introduced by a question maybe never asked before. Time has flowed by as this connecting thing has taken you both to good places. One more cup is offered and welcomed. You have said much and learned much. This is my experience of third-cup conversations.
Have you had a third cup recently?
If so, with whom?
Where was it?
Coffee shop?
Kitchen?
Parking lot at church or your kid’s soccer game? (no coffee needed)?
Maybe it was a hands-free call as part of long drive affording you the time to reconnect with a faithful friend?
There is so much to explore, even if it’s only about fishing or rebuilding classic muscle cars. I won’t go there in this blog. I’ll go other places and ask some question of us all that have not been asked for a while. I enjoy fishing and checking out restored muscle cars, but I’m fascinated by the move of God in people and peoples. God’s kingdom is incrementally transforming the world.
For those who may wonder if I intend any allusion to the third cup of four that the Passover Seder meal includes, that is for another post.
Thanks for sitting and sipping with me. I’d enjoy hearing your thoughts on this.
— R. R. Watt