We're home!  Recovery from General Conference seems to be going well for most.  Some are even at Annual Conference.  Some are packing for moves.  Some are on or are preparing for vacation.  At least one is planning for a wedding.  Most of the issues we worried about when we arrived to Portland have either worked themselves out or are being worked on.  My cats survived, although were quite a bit skinnier when I arrived, and they spent most of the first four days climbing all over me whenever I sat down.  Birds are singing, flowers are growing, rain is falling (and falling, and falling), and life goes on.


It's that sense of life continuing that we often forget or miss when we are in the midst of an all-encompassing event.  I think it is why there were so many post-resurrection visits of Jesus to the disciples.  After his death they were scared, they were tired, they were unsure, and many just wanted to forget all that had happened in the past few years and return to their pre-Jesus life.  But Jesus came to them to remind them that the three years had actually happened, that the things they did together had meaning, that even though they would be separating they would still be able to be in ministry because of who they had been and what they had done together.  Plus, God's Spirit would be with them to guide them, to lead them, to encourage them, to give them the words and actions to do what they never thought they could.  And so we, though we are separated by miles, continue on with the Spirit of God leading us to do what needs to be done in our families, our churches, our communities, and the world.  And in that hope we go on.


**"Hope of the world, thou Christ of great compassion, speak to our fearful hearts by conflict rent.  Save us, thy people, from consuming passion, who by our own false hopes and aims are spent.  Hope of the world, God's gift from highest heaven, bringing to hungry souls the bread of life, still let thy spirit unto us be given, to heal earth's wounds and end all bitter strife".....Amen


**Thanks to Georgia Harkness for the words today.