"Jesus said to them…but I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together." John 4: 34-36. (New Revised Standard Version Bible)

Sowing and reaping. Harvesting. Ripe fields. Gathering fruit. But, I like the "may rejoice together" part the most. My parents have always done some kind of planting for as long as I can remember, so I can identify with that rejoicing of the reaping. Whether it was flowers or shrubs/trees grown in the back yard; squash, tomatoes, and even now asparagus fresh from the garden. I have enjoyed every bit of it. Especially the tomatoes and the asparagus!

I suppose that there were moments forty or so years ago that I had no concept of this. There were times that as I was holding that watering hose on a tiny tree, when I wished that Papa were not so concerned with his "plant children." On the other hand, if I had not had that experience, I don't believe that I would have ever understood what it means to care enough to spend time nurturing life-as-it-grows. And, to get to see an infant tree grow into something beautiful and watch those leaves turn colors every fall…well, I am just glad that I held that hose.

Mama, on the other hand, has a wonderful gift for those vegetables. Here is where I enjoy the fruits (sometimes literally speaking) of her labors and feel no remorse for not having been there for the hard work! This is the beauty of harvesting and the genuine sense of gladness of bounty-sharing with friends and loved ones. She is delighted to share her gift of growing and we are equally delighted to receive it!

This brings me to this fifth issue of EcuMiniNet™ Online! Our second year! I have asked Father Matt Linn (our feature interview) and our writers to share some of their experiences of harvesting or reaping. So, we have voices telling us about healing our hurts, backyard conversations with God, spiritual pilgrimages, baptism, church "plantings," and poetry about the cycle of life. And, we cannot forget the wonderful photography and classic web design that merges the ezine with art.

I hope that your time with us is as delightful as ours is in the growing and harvesting-of-this-issue. We, ourselves, have changed because of the writing and gathering of these experiences. That is the blessing of this vision, this dream, this mission, this "magazine."

May we all "rejoice together" as we celebrate one-ness in Christ,

Janine C. Hagan, Editor-in-Chief

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