Acts 1:3-9

After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

For Jesus final post-resurrection appearance, we get Luke's description of the Ascension. For a long time it's been hard for me to imagine this story  without also picturing Salvador Dali's famous painting of the Ascension. (you can see it at this link: Salvador Dali Ascension) 

I mean...looking up and seeing Jesus' feet as he heads out into the clouds.

In a world that was pre-science, where we didn't realize that the world was not flat, and we didn't know all those things about physics and astronomy that we do now, this idea of Jesus disappearing into the clouds and the disciples looking up and seeing his feet was one thing.

But now...

What do we make of the Ascension?

I'm going to admit that honestly, I don't know. But what I do know is this:

That up to this point, even post-resurrection, Jesus' disciples were still fumbling around in the dark a little bit.

And Jesus still left them with authority and power.

God still sent his Spirit to guide them. And comfort them.

And 2000 years later, we still sometimes feel like we are stumbling around in the dark. And we aren't going to always get it right - not as individuals. And not as a church.

Yet we still are prepared. And gifted. And called.

And not alone.

So don't look up into the clouds for God. Look to your neighbor, roll up your sleeves and get ready!

There's still a lot to do!

Lord, you have prepared me. Help me spread my wings and fly! Amen.