Yesterday was one of the hottest days of this relatively mild summer. In order to demonstrate that I can beat the heat, I caught a cold, along with the most painful sinus infection I’ve ever had. So there. Take that, rays of the sun desperately trying not to disappoint Al Gore. The down side to this victory is that I spent the afternoon and most of the night in such excruciating pain that I couldn’t think, and this morning staring vacantly into the space in front of me — which is all an excuse for not following upon yesterday’s “to be continued.”

Until I do, you have my permission to meditate upon this:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
   4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

—John 3