And then the strangest part of the description of all. This story here is a reversal of the story of the Tower of Babel in the Old Testament. They are all changed from dispirited, passive followers to leaders who are filled with confidence and verve and joy. Such people aren't always happy anymore than the first disciples of Jesus were perpetually happy from Pentecost on, but they do live in a different way. They live with a profound aliveness.
Spirited people live passionately and love deeply and laugh often.
And laugh and cry and embrace and create and give. Even when they aren't happy, spirited people are confident that life is meaningful and that their lives are part of a purpose that is greater than themselves. They are like people on whom the fire has fallen and in whom the Holy Spirit glows until it radiates warmth and light to everyone around them. The story of Pentecost, our text for today, can give us some clues even with all its metaphorical language. They can't create it or control it by virtue of what they believe or what they do or anything they say.