Dear Ones of St. Columba's,

Last evening a few of us gathered to mark Ascension Day and walk the labyrinth. At 6:30pm the air was warm and the sky blue. Sunset was still over an hour away. During the scripture readings Meghan invited the young and young-at-heart to lay on the grass and stare up into that blue sky as the stories of Jesus' ascension return to God were read aloud. 

I was streaming the service live via my phone, and so I couldn't lie down on the grass. 

But I wanted to. I have many visceral memories of lying flat on the earth and contemplating the sky above. Some of the memories are from childhood: spinning in endless circles on the church lawn with other kids until we fell breathless to the ground and watched the sky while the earth spun beneath us and we laughed and laughed. Others are more recent memories - lying flat on a rock peak in Yosemite after scrambling up with friends, or in the bottom of a Utah slot canyon watching the sun come up through the narrow frame of pink rock. My favorite recent memories are in my own backyard, lying under our pear tree and watching the patterns made by green leaves, soft wind, and blue sky, punctuated by the airplanes that let you know I'm a Des Moines, WA resident.

There is something about lying flat on the earth and watching the sky that helps me notice the earth underneath my body. As my eyes ascend to the heavens my other senses become more aware of the immense planet underneath me and how I am a part of it, spinning in real time as the earth turns, living each sunrise and sunset alongside so many other human beings and animals who also breathe in and out each day, who also sometimes lie down and let their bodies rest on the earth.

We think about looking up when remembering Jesus' ascension. The scripture tells us he ascended to the heavens and the disciples were left looking up. My favorite Ascension day collect describes Jesus return to God this way: "Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things." I wonder if Jesus' Ascension was as much out as it was up. I wonder if as Jesus returned to God he experienced in a big and complete way what we experience when we lay our bodies on the earth and look up to the sky. Not a leaving all the things behind, but connecting to all that is in a way that allows our Christ to be present and fill all things.

We need this Jesus, as we transition in many ways in the days and weeks ahead. We need the solace, confidence and courage that comes from knowing our God fills all things. 

I am going to remember this trick of every once and while lying on the earth and looking to the sky. It is one way to be reminded that Jesus is both above and below me, and all around me - in the longing for healing that beats in my heart, and in the promise I feel when I watch the sky above, feel the earth below, and let my soul soar. Maybe you will try it, too.

With care and gratitude,

Alissa