The truth of Life is in its breath, in its breathing…

On the evening of that first day of the week,                                
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

On the eve of Pentecost, the Scriptures seem to rather abruptly end.  The two main books of Christian Scripture that have comprised the Easter liturgies, the Gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostles, conclude in today’s passages.  The Acts (ACTS 28: 16-20, 30-31), which described the early spread of the Way, those who followed the Christ, tells us of Paul’s internment in Rome:

When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself,
with the soldier who was guarding him…
He remained for two full years in his lodgings.…

What does it take for you to be led by someone or something? Does persuasive argumentation with evidential facts constitute the trust you would act upon?  Or is there perhaps a sense of authenticity that you experience from a person that propels you into responsive action? …

Why are there so many differences and distinctions?  Ways of living, ways of saying things, languages, cultures, religions, points of view…colors, rocks, flowers, animals.  Just so many differences, or to use a “different’ word – Diversity!  Too often we find it easier to slip into stances of irritated intolerance when something or someone is different than us instead of taking a brief pause that could open up another way of  perceiving.