“13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[s] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
— Luke 24:13-1
How much of your life, you know, your habits, your mannerisms, the way you walk, the way you perceive things, how much of that did you pick up along the way!
Have you ever really listened to people, you know, intently, their tone, their accent, the way they pronounce certain words, maybe they use their hands when they are talking?
Maybe they have perfect poker faces and show no expression. Some walk with toes turned out, some with toes turned in!
All these actions are learned behavior. I see these things in my two boys. You know, little quirky walks and facial expressions, things that I know they acquired from me or their mother! But I don’t ever remember actually teaching them these things. There was never a time when we had a class session “how to smile” or “The Smiths walk like this.” They just kind of picked it up along the way! They were never really taught, they just kind of caught it.
Most of what we do and who we are was just caught! The things that make us unique are things we picked up along the way!!!!
This is how innovation comes into our lives, this is how we learn to be part of a community. We are not only students walking with a bunch of teachers around us, but we are also teaching others our ways as well.
It seems this whole idea of recognizing the Christ and being part of the body of the Christ comes to life when we really look around us.
Part of the human condition is to recognize the differences around us. Part of our problem is not actually seeing value in them. What if we looked at everyone as our teacher?
Teachers all teach us ways in which to do things. Some teach by showing us ways not to do things!
Regardless, we are all on the road to Emmaus. The question is what are we allowing to take our focus. Are we looking at the past like these two disciples and lamenting what has gone or changed in our world? Do we gaze ahead wondering, fearing what is beyond what we can see, frozen by the threat of what is coming, like a deer in the head lights. Just maybe we should be looking at those around us, perhaps that is where we find the Christ, right there with us! Interesting, did you know what the direct translation of the name Immanuel means? God is with us!
O Holy One, I pray that this day and all days our eyes are open to seeing you in places we never thought you would be. That our ears are opened to the music of your voice. That we still hear it even when that music is played through diverse instruments. Lastly, I pray that our hearts are open to receive your love and our hands ready to share it with all we meet! Amen.
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Lance Smith is pastor at Zwingli United Church of Christ in Monticello.
