How many ways can a congregation journey to Emmaus?  Let me count the ways . . .

Walking, skipping, jumping, swimming, biking, hiking, dancing, and skiing;  playing soccer, basketball, baseball and Frisbee; walking to school, walking the dog, walking at Green Lake or at the mall, walking the hallways at work, taking the stairs . . . .

We counted our steps and our miles.  We marked them on the sanctuary aisle.  Week by week, we got closer to Emmaus.

Not one of us could have made the journey of 6,000 miles from Seattle to Emmaus alone.  It took all of us, working together to make footprints that went down the aisle, up the steps, to the table and then out the doors.  Alone we would become weary, bored, discouraged.  Together we invited, challenged and encouraged one another.  Every step counted.  Every person counted.  We did it together.

We studied the Emmaus story and we explored the physical, social, emotional, psychological, intellectual and spiritual aspects of life that contribute to our well being.  We talked about the balance (or lack of balance) in our lives and we tried a different spiritual practice every week to lift up those different aspects.  We memorized Bible verses.  We stretched our minds as well as our bodies.

Week after week you lined up to give your report on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening. Someone told me that they could hear pedometers clicking as people walked through the narthex to the restrooms on Sunday mornings.

Certainly The Road to Emmaus is about all these things, but that isn’t all.  It’s about discovering Jesus on the journey . . . the journey to class, to work, to the store or on a dog walk; in the hospital room of a sick friend; in the exam room when you hear the doctor say, “I’m sorry.  You have cancer.”; when you bring a casserole to your neighbor; at the check out line in the grocery store when you buy food not only for yourself but also for the food bank barrel; when you walk into your boss’ office and hear the words, “Please clean out your desk.  You are being laid off.”; and when you walk slowly into your home and lay your keys on the table and sink into a chair and think to yourself, “what’s next.”

The Road to Emmaus is about knowing that Jesus is with us, invited or not, recognized or not, wanted or not.  The road you travel is never your own.  There is always room for at least two – you and the one who loves you with an everlasting love.