04/13/2026
Bishop Olewine's Monday Morning Musing:
Good Monday morning, Cal-Nev family!
As the second week of Eastertide begins, I find myself hold tenderly before me images of who we humans are, who we can be, and how we choose to live in the world. Amidst the noise of idolatry and petulance, I am choosing God’s love-centered, grace-grounded, mercy-giving, life-altering resurrection power to ground me today.
Last week, I loved seeing the magnificent images from space shared with us from the crew of Artemis II. They reminded me of the many NASA pictures I collected as a child. Growing up in the Apollo era, one had only to send a letter to NASA and back would come a large envelope with numerous pictures. Let me say - I wrote regularly! For years, I kept all of those pictures in a giant three-ring binder. I have no doubt they were part of what stirred up in me my sense of awe about God’s handiwork in creation, and why when I look up at the night sky, my breath is still taken away.
I was also moved by Artemis II crew’s comments throughout the mission. In particular, as they prepared to fly behind the moon, Pilot Victor Glover said, "As we prepare to go out of radio communication, we're still going to feel your love from Earth. And to all of you down there on Earth and around Earth, we love you, from the Moon. We will see you on the other side." When contact was reestablished, crew member Christina Koch described what we could do on the moon and in space, closing with "…ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other."
Oh God, let it be.
We love you… We will always choose Earth… We will always choose each other.
Yesterday’s Gospel lesson told of Jesus offering peace to the disciples huddled in fear behind locked doors. He tells them he was sending them into the world just as God had sent him, breathing on them, creating in them with the Spirit, the capacity, call and confidence to be in the world as those who love. As those who choose creation. As those who choose other people just has God has chosen him.
The world would resist – principalities and powers do not go meekly into the night. But as those who are filled with the very breath of God, Jesus says go. Be new people. Be Kin-dom people, people of The Way. Love one another as I have loved you.
We choose every day who we will be and how we will walk in the world. We can be guided by idolatrous images of grandiosity and power, or we can be led by Christ’s redeeming love. As the middle Irish poet wrote, “Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.” I pray that I have the heart to choose well.
What vision guides you this morning, my Cal-Nev family?
Bishop Sandy
