Spring is a topsy-turvy time…rain, flowers, grass growing, short sleeves, sun glasses, graduations and summer plans. All of these mentioned seem so positive, but there is a flipside!  What about flooding, allergies, lawn mowing, sweating, and CHANGE??  For every positive there can be a negative.  For every up there is a down.  For every ending there is a beginning.

I have a daughter who is graduating from high school this year. This May has been a whirlwind of Prom, picnics, seminars, awards and so many exciting times.  This class of young men and women will be ending their high school days, but are not done learning!  Some will go on to college, others into the military, some to trade schools or right into the work force.  This is not an end, but a beginning!  They have a clean slate to make their mark in the world.  It doesn’t matter if they were a model student, star athlete or just getting by…they will ALL make a difference in the world!

This past Sunday was Pentecost.   This is celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples after Jesus ascended into heaven.   The Holy Spirit came into the room with wind and flames of fire alighting on each head.  Everyone could communicate with others, no matter what land they came from.  What a scary and exciting time!  Can you imagine the fear and joy?   The disciples have experienced so much!  They have loved and rejected, cried and mourned, feared and been surprised…

 Acts 2: 1-4

When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them.  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Pentecost is not the end, but the beginning! This was the beginning of the Christian church.  Celebrate the bravery that the disciples used to spread the love that they have experienced.  I am sure they were not always welcomed with open arms.  They continued to mark their mark…God’s mark—LOVE!!

Today we each have a choice how we will live our lives. It is our honor to continue to spread love and joy wherever we go!!  Share Jesus and all that he has taught!