Luke 24:13

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad….


29But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day is now nearly over." So, he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered. 34They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!"


February 22, 2021 - Cross walks can be difficult things to maneuver. This one happens to be in Anacortes, Washington. I found it particularly frustrating because its timer was off or seemed to be. I am someone who follows those signals. There is the large handprint suggesting you had better stop and be still. Then there is the white hand that suggests it is ok to walk along. Then there is that blinking timer that starts flashing at you while it counts down telling you that if you are able you should start running! This crosswalk light in Washington, would show a sign of walking and then just as you had made two steps onto the road, it would flash and go back to stop. Now this was not like New York City where you needed to behave or put your life on the line, unless of course you took the route of following the crowd. So, I could have just ignored the sign and walked across. It is called Jay walking. My son, whose name is Jay says to us, “That is how I walk all the time!” I will admit I was stuck at that crosswalk for a while.

 

I believe that entering Lent is like entering a cross walk. There are signs all about for us if we take heed. We are called to pay attention. 

The scripture I am sharing today is one of my favorites and you will see me preach to that after Easter. On this end of the Easter journey, however, I believe it has some sage advice for us now. First the disciples are cast down – they are not paying attention to the guest who has joined them until he asked them a powerful question. “What are you discussing?” They stood still. Then after that pause, they started walking again, with a more concentrated pace. We know the rest of the story and so we know that in the end, they ended up running back to Jerusalem with their new insight and experience.

Lent is a time to stop and pause, to be still. Lent is a time to walk with Jesus and listen, as well as discuss, at a pace that is natural for us. Lent is also a time to run not walk, when the joy is so abundant that you can do no less. May you find places to pause. May you find places to notice the Christ who is eager to walk with you and may you, find occasions to let your spirit run to His side, run to worship Him, and run on to tell the world.