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 Were not our hearts burning within us, while he was talking to us on the road? Luke 24:32 

  You probably already heard the news, but in case you haven’t yet, I’ll tell you now.  My family and I are moving to Minnesota to be closer to family.  It’s going to be a hard time of transition as we leave this wonderful church, in a town we love full of friends we’ve made here.  We are excited for what’s ahead, but sad about what we are leaving behind. 

  We are on the road – the space in between what is in the past and what is lying ahead in the future.  So when I read the Gospel for this upcoming Sunday, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that after the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples found themselves on the road as well, leaving behind the heartbreak of the cross, not knowing what was in front of them. 

 And that’s where Jesus meets them -  not at their destination, nor at the place they left behind.  Jesus first meets them on the road. 

  It makes me think of the many mission trips I’ve been on with our high schoolers over the years.  So many of the stories we bring back are stories that happen in the vans – not just when we arrive at the destination, but as we are on the road.  

  To be sure, God was there at Bethany when we loaded up the vans and we found God at our destination when we arrived.  But the most unexpected encounters were often on the road.  

  Maybe you are experiencing transition in your life too.  Maybe you are neither here, nor there, but somewhere in between.  Wherever your find yourself in life, I hope you know that God will meet you.  Our God is not a god that only cares about your destination (spiritually or otherwise), but one that will meet you on the road.  

  Thanks be to God!  Amen.