Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” (John 13:36 NIV)
This passage comes from The Last Supper, and seeing that this is Holy Week, it seems fitting. And it makes me think today of the Celtic pilgrims who set out on a journey, not to reach a destination (sometimes they went out in a rudderless boat!) but to find God along the way.
I think like Peter we want to follow, but as Jesus told him later in that passage, he would deny him. It’s hard to follow. Really hard. And besides, we cannot follow Jesus all the way to heaven, not right now anyway.
At least–to pray–is left–is left–
Oh, Jesus–in the Air–
I know not which thy chamber is–
I’m knocking–everywhere–
~Emily Dickinson
Of course we know the rest of the story. Jesus is resurrected. And that’s the Good News!
But I also think it’s important to consider this time and the events of Holy Week, and the fact that we “cannot follow now.”
God does give us glimpses. Hope. Little bits of joy. The character in the book I’m currently working on (her name is Grace) constantly reaches for the little bits of beauty she can find in this unfair, and sometimes dismal world. Like a trail of breadcrumbs.
Following…doing our best…trusting…
