Walking Alongside

“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him……”– Luke 24:13-16

I have had some family challenges this week, challenges that have turned my attention and changed my routine. My world has felt “tilted”, a phrase a former co-worker coined as we worked through the travails and joys of ministry together. Sometimes life feels foreign, like we are living in someone else’s body, not our own. Circumstances seem surreal, we can’t believe we are in them. They seem “off”. That’s what I mean by “tilted”.

Anyway, I took my dog for a walk this morning, a lovely morning. The yellow leaves on the trail were drifting daintily down onto the sidewalk while the morning sunshine dappled the trees, the lake shimmered like a field of diamonds. As I entered a walking trail by a lake, a woman who was walking by saw me, took off her sunglasses, and greeted me. It was someone from church whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. We chatted quickly and after a few minutes, she began to walk alongside me, still keeping our conversation going.

She told me about her retirement and her busy life of helping with youth and the nursery at church, new classes at a local college, an upcoming international trip. She described how she considered continuing her career, but was now interested in other things, and how the Holy Spirit “nudges” us in certain directions, sometimes not where we are expecting.

After walking through brilliant sunshine around part of the lake, we reached a place where the path changed. She went to join her husband (a ways ahead) and I chose to return home. As I walked back, I reflected on our conversation. I don’t think the timing of my walk was a coincidence. I think God planned for me to run into this woman, who walked on the path of life with me for a few minutes, and got me to focus on God and how the Holy Spirit may be nudging me. God knew I was tired from the week and feeling complacent and drained, with questions in my heart.

Jesus did exactly this very thing on the road to Emmaus, after His resurrection. He met the disciples where they were at, walked and talked with them, and brought their focus from the difficult “tilted” things in their lives (crucifixion and death of Jesus) to the truth about God and Himself.

Does your world feel “tilted”? Where might Jesus be walking alongside you—through a spouse, a child, a circumstance, a co-worker? Open your spiritual eyes to see where God may be calling you back to Him, and see where the Holy Spirit may be nudging you. Walk that path this week and see where God walks with you!

Prayer–“Gracious God, thank you for bringing people into my life right when I need it and walking along side me. Thank you for words of grace that are spoken to me. I pray for an open heart and ears to hear where your Holy Spirit is nudging me this week. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”