Back to normal?

Now that we have all celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Jubilee Ministry in the church with our Presiding Bishop, the parish talks an opportunity to catch its collective breath so that things can get "back to normal." But thinking about that, I wonder just what that means for us? More often than not, we see normal as merely, more of same, without much change. While that may be desirable at some level, it is not the call of the Gospel. In that sense, getting to "normal" is to be in a continual flow of action and change. God does not sit still. God is always about the business of creating, redeeming, enlivening. We cannot afford to do less. Must we be as active as God? I hope not. I think we are given a reprieve in that God recognizes us a mere creatures - creatures that need a break from time to time. God does not imagine that such a state is the normal course of affairs, however. Thus, if we want to get back to normal, we can take a break from all the hustle and bustle of a special event, but we can't forget that the work of the Kingdom is an "ever flowing stream." AS St. Francis is to have said to his followers, "All the work we have done till now is but nothing. Let us begin yet again!"