The road to Emmaus was not particularly dangerous. It was not hard or scary. The journey was pretty straightforward. Or so it seemed. Until a stranger asked to join their company.
What ensued began as an ordinary conversation about current events. Instead of the weather, they discussed the news. The stranger had an interesting twist on recent events they had not considered.
They could have ignored the stranger. Who is he that we ought to listen anyway?
But they didn’t ignore. They listened. As they listened their hearts burned. It turns out it the stranger was Jesus.
The Emmaus company got a great blessing because they were ready to listen during a routine activity.
How many times, and in how many ways is Jesus speaking to us in ways not readily visible? Perhaps through others. Through circumstances. Through nature, or through the still small voice within.Practicing listening to God during routine, daily activities aligns everything we do with genuine purpose, the truest meaning of our lives.
There is nothing more routine than walking on a familiar road. Jesus is there. If we look to circumstances and events for fulfillment, they will disappoint. Boredom or disillusionment are the likely outcome.
If we look for Jesus along the familiar road, our hearts will be filled.
“They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’”
– Luke 24:32