Concerning Baboons & Babylon

"My spirit abides among you; do not fear."

(Haggai 2:5)

There's a powerful scene in the movie, "The Lion King," where Simba is unwilling to face the pain of his past (he erroneously believes he's to blame for his father's death). The baboon priest, Rafiki, takes him to "see" his father - in a reflection in a pond. Before Simba dismisses it as simply his own reflection, Rafiki tells him, "Your father lives in you!" (And the musical has a wonderful song with this same title). So much of who Simba is is because of his father's spirit that dwells within.

When reading Haggai today, that scene came to mind. The Israelites have come home to Jerusalem after 75 years of exile in Babylon. They're afraid of their neighbors and the difficult challenge of settling back into their homeland. But God (through Haggai) reminds them: 'My Spirit abides among you; DO NOT FEAR!' Such good advice!

We all have many kinds of challenges, crises, setbacks, and uncertainties. But as people of faith we need not ultimately fear. God's spirit dwells within us! The only question is will we listen to and heed the promptings of that Holy Spirit in our lives... or try to go it alone?