Cars, Trains and Buses

A week ago I took another journey.  I drove my car to Chicago to visit with Elijah,  Shannon, and Detman. Then Shannon and Elijah drove me to the train.  The train took me to Union Station where I waited outside in the snow and cold for the Megabus. I rode the Megabus for 8 hours to Minneapolis where Aaron picked me up and took me to Jason, Erin and Ellis’ house and where Aaron’s wife Faisa, daughter Nadirah and son Imran were waiting.  What a journey.  A journey with a great purpose.  To see all 4 of my grandchildren and especially meet my newest grandson Imran.  

In this week’s Gospel lesson (Luke 9: 28 - 36) Jesus took a journey.  He and three of his closest companions walked up Mt. Tabor which was possibly 7 ½ miles or more.  No cars, trains, buses.  No 70 people to give him the Norovirus.  No snow and cold.  What strikes me about his journey and mine is the purposes of each.  And I was wondering if I would take a car or two or three, a train and a bus with his purpose in mind - to pray.   And, for that matter, would I take any journey to pray.

The other interesting fact is that Jesus after praying was transfigured.  Now that’s an interesting word.  I know it is different than being transformed, but I understand that word better.  If I take a journey to pray will I be transformed?  And, for that matter, would I be transformed if I just pray.

Part of my reading this week talked about how we need to look at prayer as being process based and not outcome based.  In the process, as we are pouring out our heart and soul to our God as we would pour it out to our best friend or our lover, we are creating a relationship with God.  When we divulge our wants, needs and desires to our best friend, we are not expecting them to fix it all, make it all better or make things happen.  We are expecting a listening ear, an understanding nod, eyes that let us know we are loved no matter what words fall out of our mouths.  

And so it is with God I’m learning again and again.  God loves me no matter what I say in prayer.  And when I’m honestly open and vulnerable with God the relationship deepens, peace flows through my soul and life is better.  It’s not fixed.  It’s not perfect.  It is peaceful.  And that is what I need most of all.

So, may we journey with Jesus this Lenten season that begins on Wednesday.  May we journey with Jesus into a prayer life that brings that peace we all are searching for.  And it’s wonderful that I do not have to get on the Megabus to do it!  

Hope