I am dictating this by speaking into my phone as I walk from the bus, approximately 1.5km to visit my brother and sister in law at Windsor Gardens caravan park. I reflect on this morning’s two bus rides to get to Klemzig. I was surprised when a Muslim lady sat next to me. Whilst I did not feel it was appropriate for me to chat much with her, I greeted her warmly and wished her a good day. She was brave to sit next to a male. Now, as I’m walking, I am thinking of many thoughts, one of them being I will be able to drive again in less than two weeks time. The other thought is that I’ll miss the public transport. I have mostly enjoyed the humble experience of travelling on the bus and train. It has been good for me. I have also enjoyed walking some short distances and having to wait for transport has helped me to be more patient.
I also think about how incredible it was for Jesus to walk after his resurrection a distance of seven miles with two men and to engage in conversation with them. Imagine all of the opportunities that Jesus had to inform them of His previous week and what it was like to be crucified and to share what it was like to feel totally alone while on the cross. However, instead of talking about himself, Jesus spoke to them about the prophets of old. He shared about how God has dealt with people through the ages. He did not share what it was like to die, but he had the courage to point them to the Scriptures and to encourage them to remain hopeful of what is yet to come. God‘s Word still does that for us today. It points us to the second coming of Jesus. A time that will change everything. A time when Jesus will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the meantime, as we walk and as we live, let us be careful to not talk only about ourselves, but to listen, and to point them to Jesus the Living Word.
After a coffee with family, I listened at length with a young couple who are travelling around Australia from England. What an adventure. I told them a little about the faith and my journey and left them to decide their day and perhaps ponder about their eternal future.