A Fork in the Road

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. Mark 9:2-8

One can set out on a particular path with all good intentions of arriving at the stated goal. With technology like GPS and other mapping technologies, it is much easier to stay on course than it once was. And yet, there are many good reasons for the road not taken, the change in plans, and setting a different course than once hoped and planned. Too often, we see the forks in the road as failure. We plan so thoroughly that once off course, we feel we are lost. And yet, often, the most beautiful and transforming moments in life happen when we are off-course and off of the script. We open our hearts a little more to the people and the world around us. And we might just let God out of the box we so often make for the Creator of the all.

The disciples were on the road with Jesus, and he had them take a little side trip with him. We don't know how much they grumbled or resented the change in plans, but by all accounts they fell asleep and were none to invested in the side trip - or at least they weren't at the beginning. Looking back, this side trip to pray was the single most solidifying and transforming moment for them. They saw and heard the presence of God, they knew for a moment love's incarnate presence fully realized. They set their faces to Jerusalem after the sights and sounds of that mountain. And they didn't know what to make of it at the time.

Today, I will be taking a different road than I had planned this week. I ask God to help me know the transforming moments of this fork in the road, and to help me be open to the power of God in my life this day. May we all invite God into our day, however off-course it might seem, knowing that God, who loves us beyond measure, is opening the skies for us and seeking to speak love to our broken hearts.