Strangers On The Road
Posted on Apr 26, 2017 by
Prior to Easter, Kari, Maren, and I joined my sister and her family to take our annual trip together. We started doing these trips about six years ago to spend quality time together with my sisters family and explore the USA and beyond. This year we headed to Vegas and then drove through the Mojave desert picking up Route 66 to Los Angeles. We then headed up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco before heading back to KC. Our trips are always a whirlwind of fun where a lifetime of memories are made!
Throughout our trip we met tons of interesting people who had stories to share. There was a retired college football coach who happened to be family friends of the Minnesota Vikings coach. He told me to keep empowering kids to live from the heart and lean into the things that challenge them. There was the homeless man who wanted to know how our time in San Francisco was going and if we needed any information. He was trying to scrape together enough bus fare to get across town to his wife and kids. We had an incredible conversation with the curator at the McDonalds museum who came out to let us in even though we were 20 minute past their hours of operation. And finally the retired rocker from the band Motley Crue who took the time to talk to Maren and I and take a picture while picking up some gear at a local guitar shop in Los Angeles. His life story and documented battle with addiction and sobriety are a source of inspiration for others with the disease.
13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.[b] 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,[c] who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Luke 24:13-21 (NRSV)
As we read the gospel lesson for this Sunday (Luke 24:13-35) we find ourselves on the road to Emmaus. Jesus appears to some disciples (not the 12) on the road and they were unable to recognize him. They just experienced Jesus death and yet see him as a stranger on the road. It wasn't until Jesus broke bread during a meal that they recognized him.
As we experience strangers on our journey, the question isn't whether Jesus is one of the many people we experience along the way but rather how do we see Jesus in everyone we are blessed to meet.
Peace- John Holt
Director of Youth and Family Ministries