In my book Following the Cloud, I discussed the continuing role of the Holy Spirit in the physical world. I had to keep referring to the the Holy Spirt by the awkward phrase "The Holy Spirit in all of creation" to distinguish His role from His position as the third person in the Trinity. I was frustrated because I did not have a clear term to use. I had a clear picture of what I wanted to say, but I didn't have a specific word to use. As Mark Twain said, "the difference in the right word and almost the right word is the difference in lightning and the lightning bug."
I recently had an epiphany. I asked Google Translate to give me the following words in Latin:
For all of the traditional theological references to the Holy Spirit as the third part of the Godhead: "Holy Spirit Divine" = Spiritus Sanctus Divina.
For references to the Holy Spirit who is continuing to work in all of creation, i.e., in physical matter: "Holy Spirit Matter" = Spiritus Sanctus Materia.
This feels like an appropriate term which respectively recognizes the Holy Spirit in a way that He has not been fully appreciated before. It allows a discussion of the mechanisms available for the continuing operation of God in the current world - without violating any physical laws which HE established.
It allows for a discussion of miracles by a correct understanding of the supernatural - NOT as something that violates natural laws, but something that is "outside" or "over" natural laws. "Super" as used in "supervisor" - "one who is in authority over."
A Boeing 747, 250,000 pounds of aluminum flying through the air, is not a violation of the law of gravity - it is just a very advanced application of many other laws of structure and aerodynamics which counteract or supersede the law of gravity.
Remember: Just because you can't understand something, doesn't mean it is a miracle. Just because you can understand something, doesn't mean it is not a miracle.
