It is the end of my parish’s program year. So much is going on and I am tired. I am feeling drained. I could use some rejuvenation, some resuscitation in my life. I am praying that the Holy Spirit might fill and renew me.

But the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is about more than our individual lives. The psalmist says the Spirit will “renew the face of the earth.” God knows this world could use some renewal.

How might we call on the Spirit to renew our world? We might pray that the Spirit breathes new life into creation, particularly those places that are most threatened—and that God might use us for its healing. We might ask that a spirit of peace reach war-torn parts of the world. We might pray that the Spirit provides fruitful harvests and generous hearts so that the hungry may be fed.

Compared to these, my own feelings of depletion feel small. But I still ask the Holy Spirit to fill all the places and people in need—including people who, like me, are feeling drained—and, perhaps, you too.