Lately I have been beginning my day with Pray as you go In these short on-line reflections, I am often asked to imagine myself with Jesus and interact with him.
One morning I was one of the women who followed Jesus. When I got close to him, I waited for Jesus to speak, but he didn’t say anything. He just took my hand in his and we walked on.
I returned to that image during a prayer retreat a few days later. In the silence I pictured myself walking hand in hand with Jesus again. I wondered what might unfold, when all of a sudden Jesus squeezed my hand like Fred does. It means: Stop. Look.
There was a deer in the bushes. She grazed so unafraid; did she even notice us? At that moment she stopped chewing and looked at us. A sense of holiness rippled through me.
After the deer went on her way, Jesus and I resumed walking. Where were we going? I felt that stop look squeeze again. Someone was coming toward us. Groan. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone. Not then.
Jesus let go of my hand and stepped in front of me so that I was hidden behind him.
“Hey, how’s it going?” Jesus began a conversation that kept the person from noticing my presence. I listened and waited for the conversation to end, but it went on for some time. As it did, I leaned my head against Jesus’s back and listened to the “Uh-huhs” reverberate in his chest. His compassion made my heart soften toward the traveller, but I felt no compunction to be sociable.
Finally the person went on and, when out of sight, Jesus took my hand once more. I returned to the question I had on the road and also in life. Where are we going?
Then I realized, it didn’t matter.
Jesus, with you by my side
enough has been given.
– Soul of Christ Prayer by David L. Fleming, S.J.
An Everyday Pilgrim 