Walking Before, Beside, and Behind

The past few times I’ve been to Disney World, I’ve been with my friend Amy The Disney Expert. 

I have done no planning whatsoever

And literally just followed her around the parks. 

Though a bit shorter, Amy walks much faster than me and so I have images in my head of watching her weave through the crowds and me trying to keep up.

Sometimes, it’s nice to have someone walk ahead of you, to lead you, to guide you, to keep you safe.

 

When we went to the symphony a few weeks ago, our bus broke down about a mile away from the concert hall. 

One of the fourth grade teachers announced to the students that we were at our drop off location and that we were going to walk the rest of the way.

The student students did not question.

They simply got off the bus and formed one gigantic line. 

The other three teachers scattered themselves amongst the line and helped when we got to major crosswalks.

I had the directions on my phone, and so I was the leader upfront, slowly guiding all of the people behind me. 

Sometimes, it’s nice to have people walking behind you, following you, so that you can keep them safe.

 

A couple of weeks ago, a friend brought me a newspaper article that had featured my work with blackout poetry.

As I sat in choir practice, listening to Tamara The Music Director work with the low voices,

I got out the paper and read the article.

Jana My Fellow Alto and pew mate, looked at me and burst out laughing.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture. 

When she sent it to me, I laughed too.

I looked utterly ridiculous, and yet fully myself, sitting in the middle of choir practice, on a church pew, reading the newspaper, with toboggan on my head.

Sometimes, it’s nice to have people beside you, just experiencing life with you, finding ways to laugh, enjoying the journey, knowing you are safe. 

 

Wherever you are today,

Walking behind,

Walking before,

Or walking beside,

May you experience moments of life’s goodness and joy 

And may you know when it is time to change course and position.

Life is a series of going behind, before, and beside, 

A constant movement from one to the other, 

And God is with us in each transition, 

A steady presence through it all, 

Our ultimate safety and rest. 

 

Amen.