Pentecost - Mary Poppins

The season of Pentecost is upon us.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  The outpouring of the Holy Spirit comes to them like the wind.  Wind, especially violent wind, is usually something that is seen as destructive.  All we have to do is turn on the news and see what horrible damage tornados are doing in various parts of our country.  And yet, on Pentecost, the violent wind that comes from heaven is not destructive but rather it is unifying. 

            There are a handful of movies that use wind to bring about positive change.  There is the destructive tornado of the Wizard of Oz – and the wind of Mary Poppins.  The wind has changed directions on Cherry Street lane.  The Banks family is in need of a new nanny and there are at least twenty applicants waiting outside their house for an interview.  The children are looking out the window and are rather disappointed in what they see.  None of these nannies fit the description that the children had put together.  The wind blows stronger and suddenly all the nannies begin blowing away.  Then, descending from the clouds, gently riding the wind, arrives Mary Poppins.  The symbolism is pretty strong as the wind brings this nanny into the broken lives of the Banks family. 

            As soon as Mary Poppins enters the Banks’ house, there is a reversal of roles.  She seems to be the one that does the interviewing.  Mr. Banks, who is used to being in charge, is caught off guard and is speechless as Mary Poppins takes control.  Before he knows it, she has given herself a one week trial and off she goes to see the children. 

            When God enters our lives through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, life changes.  The people gathered on that first Pentecost were not found to be speechless, but rather, they could hear each other, each in their own language.  The events of the day got their attention.  This was not how their usual gatherings happened.  Something new and different was brewing. 

            The Banks family had problems.  Dad was all work and no play.  Mom was involved in community events, and the children were left with the nanny.  They were not a family.  They were four people living together in a house doing their thing.  They need healing and wholeness brought to them.  They need to be a family.  They need to experience love, not just the children, but the whole family.  And so the adventure begins. 

            The prophet Joel proclaims:  I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.

Mary Poppins begins her work of healing through the children.  They are open to creativity, and adventure and fun.  Imagination is brought to life as the children go on outings with their new nanny.  They definitely see visions and dream dreams.  Whether it is Mary Poppins carpet bag that holds items way too big to fit in the bag such as a hat stand, a potted plant, and a lamp; or jumping into a chalk painting.  There is a line in the movie where Bert, a friend of Mary’s states:  When you are with Mary Poppins, suddenly you are in places you never dreamed of.”  This is the power of the Holy Spirit.  When we are with God, and the love of God blows into our lives and we respond with an openness and sense of child-like imagination, we too can participate in things we never dreamed of.  Perhaps we will not jump into a chalk painting, but perhaps we be inspired to use our own creativity to produce artwork that we can then use as a spiritual practice of prayer.  Several churches that I know of are gathering during the week for coloring, prayer, and relaxation. 

            It takes a while, but eventually even the no-nonsense father Mr. Banks can’t help but soften and realize that he too can have fun.  The movie seems to be about the children, but really, the one that is need of major transformation is the father.  He needs to be less the business man and more a father.  Transformation, changing from one way of being into a new way of being.  Thinking a little less about work and a little more about family.   

            Mary Poppins knows her work is done when Mr. Banks comes home and the entire family go outside into the neighborhood and fly kites.  As the family is transformed into a family, they are no longer in isolation.  There are others outside flying kites and together, as a family, they join the greater community in this activity.  The wind of the Holy Spirit is not just in their own lives, but alive in the community around them and out of their house they go and join others in the fun of kite flying.  Even the other bankers from Mr. Banks’ work are out there flying kites. It’s as if the transformation of Mr. Banks is contagious. 

            Just as the work of Mary Poppins brings the family together and out into the community, so too is the Holy Spirit calling us in today’s world.  In missional church we are called to prayerfully discern where the Holy Spirit is at work in our own community and how we, as God’s people, can join together in God’s work.  So, as God’s people here in this place, on this Pentecost Sunday, let us see vision, and dream dreams and go out into the world and fly a kite.  Amen.