People of Galilee, why do you stand
looking up toward heaven?
—Acts 1.11
Well, he came back from the dead,
which was very cool—
and now he’s left again, for good,
which was totally unexpected.
I mean, yeah, the whole thing
is in the realm of the absurd…
but he’s risen, right?
So he could have stayed forever, right?
Right?
Couldn’t we have had just a little clinging?
But, no. He’s gone.
As if this whole resurrection thing
has come apart in our hands.
The life he leads, and gives us, is full
of letting go.
And now we’re left with… what…
bewilderment… and grief….
and this strange unfinished feeling.
We’re looking up in the air
because that’s how we feel.
…
God
of unexpected changes,
open us
even in loss
to the next
miracle.
—May 25, 2017