By Brother Brian Shimer
Read Luke 24:13-35
I love to travel. True, business travel, when you are stuck in buildings the whole time you are there, is less appealing. I was in Clearwater, Florida for a week doing mediation with a church in April and May and never got to visit their beach! Apparently, they boast one of the best beaches in Florida! However, I did see Jesus move powerfully, so that made up for it!
Flying gives me so much joy! I love take off — could it be a picture of the rapture? And I love how Jesus arranges the seats. Some love to hunker down with ear buds or headphones, and pretend they are not seated near others. You might have guessed; I am not one of those people.
A good friend says, “I would not want to be seated next to you on a flight, Brian!” She’s the hunker-down, do-not-talk-to-me variety!
But as Jesus situates me, He shows up in conversations. A man named Lewis on a flight to Chicago was watching The Lord of the Rings on his iPad as we took off. Before long, he shut off the screen; somehow we got to talking. The next thing I knew he was crying and sharing his life, hurts and disappointments with me. We ended up praying together.
There was a young woman, Lori, next to me on a Boise flight, who when she found out I tell Bible stories, asked if I would tell her my favorite Bible Story. We spent that flight discussing the Widow of Nain.
Since people need the Lord and He knows me, I expect there may be people open to conversations around me either in the airport or on the plane. Just as he did on the Road to Emmaus, when Jesus walked up next to two of his disciples but wasn’t recognized by them, I’m certain I miss opportunities. But I am just as certain, sometimes, I end up bringing Jesus to someone because I started the conversation.
Who has God placed in front of you to love this week, even without being in the air?