Burning Up the House
Back in the years when i was in high school, there was a popular songcalled, “Burning Down the House,” by the Talking Heads.
“Hold tight. Wait til the party’s over. Hold tight, We’re in for nasty weather.
There has got to be a way, burning down the house.”
911: “What’s your emergency?
My house is on fire!
911: Ok, Get everyone out to safety. We are sending the ambulance, fire trucks,
and police to your address.

Pentecost: The Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension, held on the seventh Sunday of Easter.
When the feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force–no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
The Message Bible, Acts 2:1-4

Confirmation, Noun. In the Christian Church, the rite in which a baptized person, especially one baptized as an infant, affirms Chrisitan belief and is admitted as a full member of the Church. In churches that practice adult baptism, there are often classes before the baptism and baptism itself takes the place of confirmation.
In this sacrament, the baptized person is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. Confirmation is also part of the three sacraments of initiation, the other sacraments being those of baptism and communion. The confirmation rite is usually performed by a bishop or priest who lay their hands upon the recipient’s head in prayer and blessing. They’ll also anoint the recipient’s forehead with holy oil or chrism. There are seven gifts one receives with the sacrament of confirmation. These are wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, piety, wonder and awe, or “Fear of the Lord.”
I was in the seventh grade at a Catholic private school in Albany, GA, USA, when I received my confirmation. I was confirmed in a service by the Diocesian bishop. I remembered also learning the gifts we were to receive with this sacrament, and we had a service project to complete as well. I also remember doing a workbook on confirmation that seemed to explain this particular sacrament. I bring this up because of the RCIA, Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, class I completed this Spring of 2023. I remember my mom being my sponsor at that service. I was thirteen years old at the time; and did not completely understand the part about receiving those gifts. Fast forward to the year of 2023, I have a more adult view of the gifts. How is the sacrament of confirmation like Pentecost? One receives the Holy Spirit, just as the apostles did eons ago. Why was the Holy Spirit depicted as tongues of fire on the apostles? Fire is warmth, light, it consumes. The tongues of fire were the physical evidence the apostles needed from God to ensure the continuation of the church’s mission, that being to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19 The Message Bible

The Rhythm of Life
We Ebb.
We Flow.
We run screaming, “But I’m not ready yet…”
We embrace whatever life throws out
We notice bits and pieces of our hair turning gray
In what was once normal and full color.
We wax.
We wane.
Seasons
Time periods
A moment in time becomes so singular
It almost seems like a verb instead of a noun
We run shouting, “The inevitable is coming.”
We laude our praises for what is already here.
I want to hug who I once was in the childhood of life.
I want to set free the adult.
Evolution.
Revolution.
Rebelution.
The trumpet blares
Time is of ever near.
Now

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