As Janet continued her walk through Lancashire, she noticed a line of dark clouds away to the east, while her head stayed shower-free. This row of clouds persisted for most of her day’s walk, but on Janet fell not a drop of rain.
It’s all about location. Janet’s walk has (AFAIK) been about exploring this country on the ground, pace by painstaking pace. Jesus’ ministry was all about location. It would have been different in a place other than first-century Palestine, with its particular injustices and conflicts. It would have been different if he had been a woman.
And then we come to think about ascension. Does this mean that Jesus’ work is no longer about location, but is now part of some over-arching greatness? Well, sort of.
But I’d like us to believe that it is still about location, about the day-to-day conflicts and injustices of people on the ground… about real hurt and real hope. Its just that now his work is done through you and me, with our feet on the ground.
Janet has had her feet on the ground, walking on earth, grass, cinders, mud, puddles, tarmac… And she’s done brilliantly. Sometimes on a walk, one lifts up one’s eyes and sees a new vista. Very soon now, the Lake District mountains will heave into view.