From the Cenacle, Into the World

"Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done....

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need.

Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.

And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved."

--Acts 2:43-47

So, Church, Happy Belated Birthday -- hope everyone's still soaking up the Spirit of Pentecost... and while we're at it, all good wishes for a Happy Monday and great start to June.

(June, already? Wow.)

It might be some 1,976 years since the Cenacle's doors were broken and Babel was reversed. Yet even so, the best things never change. Among these, just as it was in the beginning, the best and most meaningful things we do still come from the same place -- away from the headlines, inspired in the quiet, never rushed or frantic, and always one soul, one moment, at a time.

In that light, with a frenzied spring cycle now (finally) behind, your narrator's grabbing a couple days, first to rest and recharge, then to play catch-up with my own "first church" -- the family and friends I've been terrible at keeping after these last few months, the folks to whom I owe whatever I am and everything I know about... well, everything.

As some of you are well aware, the hum of the days 'round these parts has made for an abysmal record when it comes to checking in, returning calls and saying thanks for notes and graces received; for anyone here who knows this from experience, I can't apologize enough, and I'm looking forward to chip away at as much as possible over these next days. Sure, the page might be the 800lb. gorilla, but the truest gift of the journey, every journey, lies in the one-on-one.

That said, some moves are seemingly afoot, and whatever is breaking and urgent will get the usual treatment once it can be sufficiently nailed down. Stay tuned, but aside from that, don't expect too much for the next few... this was supposed to be the "slow year," but it's turned out to be a pretty manic time behind the scenes, and the prospect of summer (read: God's gift) and its breathing space is, to put it mildly, exciting beyond words. By its end, God willing, it'll be nice to have my mind back, and hopefully some original thoughts with it.

To one and all, every blessing and gift of the Spirit's descent and every joy and hope of late spring's rites of new life. Hope all's great wherever you are -- God love you lot today and always.

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