Road Trip... from loss to life

From Dr. Luke’s bio of Jesus comes this moving story of two friends on the road… friends or frolleagues or maybe even marriage partners… two people who had at least one thing in common: They were huge fans of Jesus. They had been certain that he was The One: the surge of power that they’d been hoping for.

Then the Power Surge got himself in deep trouble. Arrested. Executed. And a big “The End” scrolled up on the film credits. In one night they lost their dear friend, their big dream, and probably their whole concept of who God is. That’s a lot to lose.

You know what it’s like to have all the oxygen squeezed out of your lungs? when the loss is so intense you’re not so sure you even want to breathe again? Yeah, I know it, too.

Luke says, “They stood still… looking sad.” Don’t we all know what those words mean? Numbness, confusion, swimming in losses. Treading. Dreading. Wondering if anything good could possibly come from all that is your life.

What does it take for these two crushed Jesus-fans to get on the road again? Well, it takes… Jesus. He comes and joins them and listens intently and opens up worlds of new meaning.

Does Jesus still do this? I think so. I know so. And it’s by jumping into stories like this one that it can happen. Jesus steps onto the road beside us as we struggle together, as we see and hear Jesus in one another and in ourselves. It’s happening every Thursday night as by the way gathers. And you’re invited to hop on the road anytime.

This Thursday’s Bread for your journey will be a time to explore this Road to Emmaus story and the road that is your own journey. Your guide for this walk will be Bill Peterson, someone who’s on my Top Ten of people most likely to spot Jesus about to join me on my road. That is to say: I know Bill to be one who can nail that insight when I’m wandering and wondering what’s up… so it’s easy for me to see God busy at work in and through him.

Do come by the Crowne Plaza if you can Thursday night, 7 pm. Or come back here to the blog one of the following days for a virtual walk down the Emmaus road. There’s nothing like being with others who know what it’s like to lose a dream, to stand still looking sad – and then to learn to live again.

And by the way, if you want to immerse yourself in the story on your own, it’s from Luke 24, and you can click on the title of this post for a link.

Peace,

Kari