Often in my day to day work as a pastor or even in my personal life, there come moments when God speaks through the everyday-ness of life. For several weeks, I have been part of the team leading classes for our students who are to be confirmed. This past weekend, not only did we have our weekend retreat but also two of our students were baptized in our local Lake Gertrude. Then today, I come upon the story in my Bible reading, Mark 5:21-43, about Jairus, a synagogue leader whose daughter is dying. When Jesus arrives with the man, they are told she is already dead yet Jesus tells them to believe, that she is only asleep. As I read these verses: “He (Jesus) took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). ⁴² Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old),” in a flash I saw how Jesus will raise each of our confirmands into life as this Sunday one more is baptized and the rest confirm their baptismal vows and together they fulfill their desire to be Jesus followers as part of their local church. For all my intent to speak of the vine and the branches passage from John this Confirmation Sunday, this passage captured me, perhaps because of the young girl who was the age of many of our students. This Sunday, I pray the students hear Jesus say clearly, “Get up!” Get up and follow me, get up and love your neighbor, get up and serve the poor, get up and visit the sick, get up and do justice for your community and most of all, get up and live in me!