Dear Friends,

We often talk about hitting the ground running. The phrase suggests that in starting in on something, one has to have sufficient energy to keep up with all that is going on.

After a restful week away, I was prepared to come back to work doing just that. I knew there was much happening here at St. John’s, and that there would be emails and messages to respond to, and tasks left uncompleted at the start of a vacation.

But I did not hit the ground running. Instead, I found myself being lifted up — lifted up by the energy and commitment of people here in this place, and by the variety of ministries that are being carried out and expanded. I was lifted up by the awareness of the work of our dedicated staff. I was lifted up by comments and observations people made about Holy Week and Easter, about how our work and our worship in that time gave us a deeper understanding of the Paschal mystery. I was lifted up by persons calling to talk about ministries in which they are engaged, and ways they want to serve. I was lifted up by the commitment and faith of our vestry members, who are committed to listening for God’s guidance as they lead us in the year ahead. In all these things, I was lifted up by the wind of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Christ which is moving through our midst.

I know there will be days when it does feel like I am running and not able to catch up. But I know in my return from a week away that ultimately it is not my energy upon which I will need to rely, but rather the abundant energy of new life which we are given in Jesus Christ.

Faithfully,

Tom