Detours

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). John 1:35-42

Detours

Too often gapers delay the route we
turn and see the broken wreak humanity
splayed across our paths and time stands
still traffic stalls and we grope and
creep to find another way home.

The exit in sight we turn to strangers
who offer another way and we follow
through gardened suburban lanes lined
busy streets and foreign territory
we never planned to see.

We are changed by what we see relieved
to be home again clinging
to the wonder of love and familiar.

God is the Creator of detours those paths
where we learn to trust and be lost
to the moment and the other.

We are known and loved in our detours
we are made whole in our brokenness
by the Lamb of God who tarried with strangers
and called sinners his companions
and tattered women as disciples.