Not with a bang, but a whimper

The whole development of Christianity and Christian belief may productively be viewed as an extended exercise in dissonance reduction. From Deane Galbraith

All we need to know is that we have been thrust into a world where people are tortured, starved, and suffering, and we have the capacity to relieve their anguish: one by one. From Lawrence Hoffman

My son phoned me from Winnipeg. I picked up the phone.
- Hello
- Oh - you still there? I guess it didn't happen then. 

- ha, ha 

- If anyone was going to be taken, it would have been you
- I am just as glad to have been left behind. Would you like to talk to your mother?

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini

Here is another real rapture - Beethoven Missa Solemnis - Rapture is a 12 / 8 time signature - making the world whole with rhythm - one can get wrapped up - rapt with laughing at spelling errors too.

The Rapture in music

Try the Schubert String Quintet

The Rapture in art and poetry

Caravaggio - The Ecstasy of  St Francis

Good grief, as Lucy would say.

The presence we need is and has been and always will be. If only we were not trying to figure it out and making the engagement of faith a laughing stock in the process.

George Herbert's Easter

Can there be any day but this,

Though many sunnes to shine endeavour?

We count three hundred, but we misse:

There is but one, and that one ever.

or try Song 5:1-4 posted in a hurry - not much time left!

Rapture has never been a myth but neither is it to be calculated as if tomorrow were more important than today and especially without the cost of our conformity to the death of Jesus.

O Joy O Rapture

5 א	בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי אִכְלוּ רֵעִים שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּדֹּודִים	I am come into my garden my sister O bride I have gathered my myrrh with my spice I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey I have drunk my wine with my milk eat, friends; drink yea, be intoxicated, O lovers	An argument for incarnation. I am reminded of John 6 - except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood, ye have no life in you
ב	אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה וְלִבִּי עֵר קוֹל דּוֹדִי דוֹפֵק פִּתְחִי לִי אֲחֹתִי רַעְיָתִי יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי שֶׁרֹּאשִׁי נִמְלָא טָל קְוֻצּוֹתַי רְסִיסֵי לָיְלָה	I - I sleep, but my heart is aroused the voice of my beloved knocking Open to me, my sister, my companion my dove, my undefiled for my head is filled with dew my locks with the drops of the night	restless...called - will we respond? Wake to the knock, do not let the cares of the world distract you.
ג	פָּשַׁטְתִּי אֶת כֻּתָּנְתִּי אֵיכָכָה אֶלְבָּשֶׁנָּה רָחַצְתִּי אֶת רַגְלַי אֵיכָכָה אֲטַנְּפֵם	I have put off my coat how then shall I put it on? I have washed my feet how then shall I soil them?	the moment is missed
ד	דּוֹדִי שָׁלַח יָדוֹ מִן הַחֹר וּמֵעַי הָמוּ עָלָיו	My beloved put in his hand by the hole and my belly moved for him.	the moment is not passed - she is known