Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Luke 24:13-35
Sometimes we imagine that encountering God requires us to go somewhere special.
We set aside a quiet time for prayer. We come to worship. We open our Bibles. We look for those moments when everything seems to fall into place and God’s presence feels unmistakable.
But Scripture paints us another picture.
In Deuteronomy, God’s people are told to keep God’s presence woven into the ordinary rhythms of their lives – when they’re at home, when they’re travelling, when they lie down, and when they rise.
And then, in the story of the road to Emmaus, two disciples discover just how true that can be.
They’re just walking.
They’re talking about everything that has happened. They’re trying to make sense of their disappointment and confusion. And Jesus comes alongside them.
They don’t recognize him, at least not at first.
It is only later, when they look back, that they realize something sacred had been happening all along.
Maybe that’s part of the mystery of faith: God may be present long before we recognize God’s presence.
We don’t always need to find God. Sometimes we just need to be more attentive to where God is already walking with us.
So, sometime this week, take a walk with no particular destination in mind. Leave the headphones behind. Put away the phone. Let the walk itself become your goal.
As you begin, take a slow breath and pray:
“Christ, walk with me.”
Then just walk.
Notice what you see, hear, and experience along the way. Pay attention to the people you encounter, the beauty around you, the thoughts that arise, and the things that catch your attention.
You don’t need to interpret anything. Just notice. At some point during your walk, ask:
“Where might Christ be walking with me today?”
Let the question sit in your thoughts.
When your walk is finished, take a moment to look back over your journey. Is there something you noticed that you might otherwise have missed? A moment of beauty? A thought that stayed with you? A person who crossed your path? A sense of peace or gratitude?
Give thanks for whatever you encountered. And remember the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize Jesus while he was walking beside them. Sometimes we may only recognize God’s presence when we look back and realize:
“My heart was being opened along the way.”
Let’s pray
Christ who walks beside us, Open our eyes to your presence in the ordinary paths of our lives. Help us slow down, pay attention, and recognize the moments when you are already walking with us. May we discover that no part of our journey is beyond your presence. Amen.