PENTECOST II

June 11, 2023

“Getting There From Here”       

It’s that traveling time of year, and after three summers of serious limitations on our comings and goings, even the folks who are usually content to stay around home are getting the travel itch.  We’ve tried to make the best of the limitations that staying healthy and not contributing to a public health crisis required of us, but there are places we want to go, things we want to do, and people we want to see!  So whether we take a simple day trip (looking at something other than our back yard and the neighbor’s garage) or head out into new and previously unknown areas, we make modest or more complex plans.       

Of course, we’re on the roads during the “second season” of the Midwest — construction.  Whether in town or out on the highway, it’s unlikely we’ll go very far before coming upon arrays of orange signs, barrels, pillars, and barriers, not to mention being rerouted completely.  And of course, we’ve all had goofy detour experiences — I once followed the directions until the sign reading “Detour” pointed me toward another sign that read,  “Road Closed.”  Hmmmm.       

Accounts of the Hebrew people wandering through the wilderness after their escape from Egypt tell us of a nearly endless journey, and we know that Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to save their infant son, Jesus from the wrath of Herod.  But what would be a two or three-day drive for us would be a long, arduous trek, most likely on foot, for our ancestors.  The Gospels tell us of Jesus and his disciples walking through the countryside, teaching, preaching, spreading the gospel of forgiveness and love.  And our Lord walked to his death, carrying the cross that would be used to kill him.       

In Psalm 23, we read: “The Lord . . . leads me in the right paths . .” and“Though I walk through the darkest valley . . .”  and we visualize a person on foot, perhaps alone, and vulnerable to all kinds of dangers.  These everyday figures of speech relate not only to our physical safety, but certainly to our spiritual lives as well.  God promises that he is always  beside us, guiding us in the right ways, and when we stray, leading us back.  The images of Christ as the shepherd of the sheep, searching out the lost one and returning it to the flock are another way in which we are assured of our Lord’s never-ending love and forgiveness.  We wander off, aimless and careless, and find ourselves in a seemingly impossible predicament.  But it’s Jesus who cares for us, who will search and find us in spite of our sinful ways, will walk into that dark valley, pick us up and bring us into the light.  He is always there, always searching and rescuing, and if we listen and follow, trusting in his love and faithfulness, we will be on the right path.       

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  (Psalm 119:150) 

Watching where the path goes,

Your friend in Christ,

Mary Rogers