The road to Emmaus:
for some
the last stretch of a long journey,
a search for the promised Savior.
Now the journey of fear and sadness and loneliness is ended
as the long-sought one reveals himself –
A new journey begins, eyes opened, hearts afire.
New life and a new day lie ahead.
The road to Emmaus:
for others
an oft trodden road,
his strong presence a steady companion and guide
as faith is again and again challenged and deepened
with the passing from one stage of life to another.
The road to Emmaus:
for all
a journey not to be missed,
a way not to be refused,
where hearts are set afire
and blind eyes opened to truth himself.
Where do I find myself now on this road?
Where am I on this journey homeward?
At the beginning?
Dare I set out,
venturing that first step on the way that lies ahead,
mustering up courage,
gathering strength,
sure that he will walk this way with me?
Or somewhere far down the road,
in the heat of the day,
tired and weary,
looking for refreshment
and relying on his companionship
to ease the loneliness and the length of the way?
Do I stand at a crossroads,
a turning point,
a fork in the road,
with decisions to make,
choices that will determine
the direction of my life?
Or at a meeting point,
a new encounter
with my Lord and with my wayfaring companions
awaiting me at each step?
On the verge of new discovery?
Or at an impasse,
obstacles blocking my path
and forcing me to make an unexpected detour?
What must I leave behind to make this journey,
free and unburdened from my past
and all my cares?
And what must I bring along?
My heart take courage!
At every step,
at every stretch of the journey,
he walks the way beside me,
speaking words of life:
“Did not our hearts burn within us while he
Luke 24:32
talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?”
The Road to Emmaus poem is from Gladly Given to God, by Jeanne Kun © 2021. Used with permission.
Top image credit: The Road to Emmaus, oil painting by © John Dunne, artist from Dublin, Ireland. Used with permission.
Jeanne Kun is a noted author, and a member of Bethany Association, an international, ecumenical association of women living single for the Lord in various communities of The Sword of the Spirit, and a senior woman leader in the Word of Life Community, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.