Lectionary scriptures for this week for many churches include the story of the "road to Emmaus" as found in LUKE 24:13-35. It reminded me of something that I witnessed so very long ago.
A ROAD TO A MESS
That particular Sunday morning happened to be one of those mornings when things just clicked for me. The sun was shining through the stained glass windows in the empty sanctuary. For reasons I can’t remember, I decided to spend some quiet prayer time in the sanctuary alone. The timing was during Sunday school classes and well before our worship service. I sat on a pew near the back - near the large “Road to Emmaus” stained glass window.
Suddenly, in the middle of this time of prayer that was colored by the sun shining through the stained glass, the inner doors to the sanctuary opened and a stream of 3-to-5 year olds walked in with their Sunday school teacher. “Shhh,” whispered the teacher. They quietly headed to the huge stained glass window near me – the one that depicted Jesus and the men on the road to Emmaus. Their teacher had read them the story and now they were looking at the beautiful window as their illustration.
The first question from the teacher was, “What are the men wearing?” “Dresses,” they shouted. I had to smile (OK, so the robes do look a little like dresses). The teacher asked, “Where are they?” All but one shouted, “They are on the road to Emmaus!” That one, a sweet little boy standing closest to me said, “They are on the road to a mess.” Out of the mouths of babes!
Thank you, God, (and this little boy) for reminding us that there are times when we do indeed find ourselves on the "road to a mess.” We mumble through “Christ has died” and shout “Christ is risen” and “Christ will come again!” And yet, like those on the road to Emmaus, this present-tense faith, at times, turns a little past-tense. May we grow to recognize our Risen Lord's voice as he walks with us ... even on the messiest of roads.
