I find it interesting that it was only in the
breaking of bread with Jesus that the Emaus
disciples recognized him.
I wonder...do we recognize Jesus when we brake
bread together at His table? Why? Why not?
Preacher in Ks.
I'm preaching this text April 7 instead of the 14th. Just couldn't pass up the opportunity to preach it on a communion Sunday (we celebrate the first Sunday of the month).
I've been thinking about holy moments I've had in my life and ministry, how Christ has surprised me by his presence. One of those moments came when I visited a member who was dying of cancer. Near the end of the visit I asked her how / for what she would like me to pray. She expressed concern for family members and a sick church staff member. As I bowed my head to pray she got out of her recliner with great difficulty and knelt there at that chair. After I'd prayed she prayed and in her prayer she prayed for me. I knew I had been in the presence of the living Christ and I now treasure that moment.
A common thread of the holy moments I've been able to recall is that in each one I was doing something God had called me to. (In this case, visiting a sick woman.) The two on the road to Emmaus insisted their traveling partner become their guest at table; they shared their bread and companionship with the stranger. It was then that they were blessed with recognizing the risen Christ.
One angle for preaching is to encourage the hearers to faithfully do what God's given them to do. Christ will meet them in their lives.
Jeff in Jax, FL
Preacher in Ks:
I've been puzzling over the same thing. Sometimes it seems like just a bit of bread and some juice. Other times it is the body and blood of Christ; it is truly communion with the risen Lord. What makes the difference? I'm thinking it's "Who" that makes the difference. Maybe like Cleopas and his friend we must open our hearts/lives to the people around us in order to be open to Christ's presence.
Jeff in Jax, FL
Hey, Long time no writing! I hope everyone is having a blessed Easter!
Isn't the road to Emmaus an interesting text? What I believe is so interesting is that Jesus is invited to be the guest, but in the end he becomes the host.
How many of us, at times, have invited Jesus in to our lives only to find that Jesus is the one that actually invites us (into fellowship, communion, and ultimately eternity!)
There is definitely, for the sacramental types, a lot of language that might be used to illustrate Holy Communion. For the pastoral types there are words that might comfort the saddened (just as Jesus gave Cleopas and friends hope for the future). Perhaps, an evangelical evangelist might use this text as a call to faith (to open the eyes to where God is).
Well, I hope your sermon touches the life of at least one person this week. God bless!
Vicar in Chicago
We are celebrating hope for the Children of Africa Sunday this week. The connection between finding Jesus in the stranger at Emmaus and finding jesus in strangers across the sea is pivotal for me. the Des moines Register had an artlicle on Catholics converting at Easter and how powerful the rituals were for them in fostering a relationship with Jesus. How can the ritual of communion help us foster relationships with jesus and each other?
I am baptizing an adult and baby this day, and the first half of the service is orientated toward Baptism. I want to move to this text for the second part of the service. At present I am working on any transitional link. Nancy-Wi
re transitional link for Baptism and Lord's Supper
Baptism = Welcome to the Family!
Lord's Supper = Join us at the Table!
wd in WNC
I too am preaching this text on the 7th -- a welcome Sunday off the following week. Came across one of Buechner's sermons on the text. I like his question about Emmaus being the places where we go when it all gets to be too much. My title is "Where do you go to forget?" And, of course, the bottom line is that God comes to us wherever it is we choose to escape to, breaks bread and invites us to come home again. Gives a little different spin to the "warm heart" picture I've loved for so long. ChapPA
Well, I've got my sermon title . . .
"A Walk To Remember" :-)
Dave K. in West Ohio
I love how Jesus listens first, then envites them to discribe more of what they were experiencine and how they were making sense out of things and then helps them rebuild new hope on their old foundations of scripture, newly interpreted.
I believe Jesus is a master of paradigm shifts who listens carefully to what paradigms we are currently using and gently helps us find anothe bridge to new meaning. Manzel
Isn't this characteristic of the mystical experience? We can have this awareness of the divine presence while it is mysterious but once we become self consious about it, poof. Like Peter walking on the water, once we become self conscious of it, our limited mind caused some kind of shutdown. Manzel
I can hear Jesus making some kind of comment on how ploddinly slow our hearts and minds are, not as a condemnation but as an observation that it does not have to be this way. Reminds me of Yoda's Jedi teaching "do or do not, there is no trying". Manzel
There eyes keep them from recognizing them. What does this mean?
Matthew, Mark and John are all very clear about The risen Christ appearing first to Mary (and possibly other women) so why is Luke bent on saying that Peter was the first to see the Risen Lord? It is unthinkable that Luke had not heard stories that Mary was sthe first to see the risen Jesus. It certainly smaks of deliberate male Chauvinism by the auther of Luke-acts. This tarnishes his credibility.
I'm intrigued by the notion that it was only when the disciples welcomed a stranger into their midst, eventually inviting him into their home, that the risen Christ was revealed to them. What if they had snubbed off this weirdo who edged into their private conversation? What if they'd said at the door to their home, "Well,it was nice meeting you - have a nice rest of the journey." Could it be that hospitality is a crucial Christian discipline that we've neglected, and that if we were to practice hospitality to strangers, we'd see evidence of the resurrection far more often than we normally do?
I'm also curious about hospitality codes in the ancient middle east. Anybody know if the disciples were just doing what was expected of them,or if any social mores were broken in this story?
Re: the question about women as first witnesses of the resurrection -- the thing Luke doesn't mention in this story, but would be fairly obvious to the early hearers/readers (unless it could be assumed that the 2 on the road to Emmaus were gay or lesbian partners) is that this is a married couple, man and woman, who invited Jesus into their home. So perhaps even Luke, who includes stories of so many women in the gospel, but usually in paternalistic or even derogatory terms, couldn't get around the fact that at least a woman MAY have been among the first witnesses ... after all, they didn't really pay attention to hours and minutes like we do, and who's to say that Jesus didn't appear on the Emmaus Road before he appeared to Peter? It's almost like the writer of Luke just can't bring himself to put it in writing, but he doesn't know how to deny it, either. But let's not be too hard on him -- he wasn't exactly evangelizing in a feminist culture. Blessings to all -- Kay
Luke does not say that the Risen Lord appeared first to Simon, Simon is merely the one who is mentioned. It may be that the culture would not give the same kind of credence to any appearances to Mary or the other women. After all, if they did not believe the women when they had said he was alive (verse 11), then why would they believe it if they said he had appeared to them? A claim by Simon could not be as easily discounted, for he was not a woman.
I have never read Luke as a chauvinist, even though his culture may have been. In Luke, often times it is the women who are the examples of faith. I will, however, pay attention to the possibility that I have overlooked something.
Michelle
Whoever understands this passage as chauvinistic needs to read the passage within a first century context and not today's.
John near Pitts.
A few early impressions ...
Because it's been a theme lately, I want to highlight the "walking," or the traveling in some way. suggestions?
I'm questioning the "stranger" component. Maybe because I'm extroverted and talkative, I have a hard time putting myself in the traveler's shoes for that many hours (I'm presuming it took awhile to GET to Emmaus) and still considering a walking companion a "stranger." I'd be thinking "friend," even if I expected that it would be a short-term friendship shared just for the journey while your paths were crossing. Shoot, I remember CB radios - people you met at rest stops would arrange to talk with you over one of the channels. I'd even heard of people sharing picnics with so-called "strangers"
re: ancient mideast hospitality customs - I had a class in parables and I remember my professor's comment on "the friend at midnight." If a friend asks you for something, you are to get it. The audacity wasn't in asking for the bread but in the hour. So, it seems possible that one would offer a meal to a travelling companion. And, having recently re-read "The Bronze Bow" (b/c my daughter had to read it for class), I recall the characters in that setting offering food to whoever they were with at mealtime.
Interesting that Jesus kept his identity a secret until breaking bread - although, who would've believed him? And, come to think of it, did he intend to reveal his identity when he broke bread in the first place?
Sorry to be so long ...
Sally
I find the phrase "were not our hearts burning within us" very interesting. Does anyone know how the word burning translates? Nancy-Wi
Too bad they just did believe the women in the first place! but then there is power in the scars as we learned last week to transform hearts and vision. just mutterings.
"Came across one of Buechner's sermons on the text. I like his question about Emmaus being the places where we go when it all gets to be too much. My title is "Where do you go to forget?" And, of course, the bottom line is that God comes to us wherever it is we choose to escape to, breaks bread and invites us to come home again." The Children's book "The Runaway Bunny would go well with this theme. Nancy-WI
Jeff, your comment "they shared their bread and companionship with the stranger. It was then that they were blessed with recognizing the risen Christ." is so exciting. I plan to preach on having our eyes opened by Christ leads us to seeing our differences and appreciating one another! This is a great lead in to it.
It is in sharing and giving of ourselves to those strangers from whom we expect no return that we gain our greatest spiritual encounters. Still have lots to consider yet!!
The Story about the little boy and the man with the burnt hands last week was so moving. It worked so well in my message!! THANK YOU THANK YOU
jmj in Wi
Nancy-WI asked "Does anyone know how the word burning translates?"
The verb is "kaio" ... the specific word is "kaiomene" -- literally meaning "set on fire" or "consumed with fire".
Blessings, Eric in KS
Thanks Eric,
"Were not our hearts consumed with fire with in us." I wonder what kind physical feeling this would be.
"Opening the scriptures to us" I think this means that what we now see as prophetic texts, where shown now to the disciples. We can not always see where we are going until we have examined where we have been. Nancy-WI
In ancient times hospitality was vital for the survival of travellers.
Initially people lived in villages that consisted entirely of their own relatives (clans) and they were therefore quite secure in their own village. However, for those who ventured outside the village their journey could well involve travelling through villages of rival clans. It was a kind of unwritten rule that if you came across a traveller you would offer them hospitality, to help their survival. The idea being it could be your son, daughter, father, mother etc. travelling in foriegn and unfriendly territory.
Hope this helps
RRR London UK
I was raised in the church and have been taking communion since I was able to walk, but there came a time when the bread and the juice wasn't just bread and juice anymore. My eyes were opened and it became the blood and body of Christ. As John Wesley said, "My heart was strangly warmed." This is a good week to give testamony to the first time our hearts burned for Jesus Christ. Is the burning getting stronger or weaker?? Harrell in Texas
A priest in our area commited suicide Easter week, and the mass that Wednesday night (the day his body was found) included the Walk to Emmaus. The bishop's homily included personal remarks (including his forgiveness for suicide, thank goodness), and pointed out how the disciples walked the road and "opened their "opened their hearts to each other and to Christ" not knowing it was him. He encouraged the congregation to similarly open their hearts to one another. Then he pointed out that when Christ was revealed at the breaking of the bread, the disciples realized that Christ had been walking with them all the time. At the eucharist that followed, I couldn't help but notice that Christ had been walking with us all the time. Our eyes were opened to him.
Mark from Ark
Sally said she wants to highlight walking.... this just came in from eSermons as part of a longer squib. I thought it might be helpful to someone taking that focus:
======
The theology of Jesus seemed to take root among the ordinary people, the people who understood the street. It didn’t play very well in the temple. It seems that Jesus was never able to accomplish much with the people in the temple. He made an important declaration and read some Scripture. But he met more resistance than hospitality. Perhaps that is why most of Jesus’ miraculous healings and transformations happened out in the streets. Did not Paul the religious prosecutor encounter the risen Christ on the Damascus Road?
On the very first Easter day the risen Christ could not be found in a temple or church. He was out walking on the Emmaus Road, out walking with two of his disciples who did not yet recognize him. But their eyes would be opened. The Ethiopian had a life-transforming encounter with Jesus on the Gaza Road. Blind Bartemaeus experienced Jesus’ healing touch right on the berm of the Jericho Road.
Jesus had a market-place theology. He met people where they lived. He walked where they walked. While out in the streets, his message didn’t play very well in the temple or the academy.
Adapted from Michael Slaughter, Out On The Edge, Abingdon, 1998, p. 44-45
=======
Blessings, Eric in KS
I agree that the scripture does not say that he appered
to Peter first it only says that he has appeared to
Simon the women had already told the gospel story
the women had been the first to carry the gospel message
of the risen Lord. But they did not believe the
women but they could not discount what Peter had
to say. I also think that this could have been
a married couple and one of the disciples on the
Emmas Road that day was indeed a woman.
In our walk with Jesus how often are we focused on our
own disappointments and problems and when we turn
to walk with Jesus and invite him into our walk
he shares in our sorrow and can replace that sorrow
with joy. Grace and Peace Kathy in NC
did not our hearts burn within us? Reminds me of Moses burning bush experience. Manzel
I have a question. If these 2 disciples were not present when Jesus broke bread with the 12, how did the breaking of the bread inspire them with such insight in Emmaus? Of course, Jesus also broke bread with the crowds along the shores of Galilee when he fed the multitudes. Maybe that's what was registering in their minds?
Also: I am intriged by the idea that these two may have been a couple -- husband and wife. Isn't it interesting that because we read "two OF THEM (disciples)", we think only of MEN?!!!
Clare in Iowa
"Holy Heartburn" could be a sermon title, but like an anonymous writer, I'm intrigued by "their eyes were kept from recognizing him." Sounds a little predeterminational, at first blush. And reminds me of GOd's "keeping" of another bodily part/organ, as in "God hardened Pharaoah's heart" (various places in Exodus, e.g. 9:12). However, at other times in this saga, Pharaoah's hard heartedness (e.g. 7:13)seems to be more of his own doing (or at least, less of God's doing). I.e., Pharaoh had his predelections, inclinations, propensities. So, it gets back to perceptions, I believe: the folks on the walk (yeah--could have been a couple? Man (Cleopas is named) and a woman?)must not have been looking for this risen Lord (if they trusted that far, at it seems they did) to appear on this ordinary journey. I'll encourage my people to look for God in the ordinary. I've used a fun children's book before, in a children's sermon, "Nobody makes cookies like grandma" (think that's the exact title). Between that and the breaking of bread, sharing of bread at the food pantry, serving on committees and boards always expecting to find the Spirit of the living Lord.
Peter in WI
I love Nancy-WI's idea about The Runaway Bunny. A parent vows to pursue a beloved child no matter how far the child roams, no matter what ruse used to hide. God's love does pursue us to the ends of the Earth, doesn't it? Even when we head away - down the road to Emmaus or some other hiding place, God comes to call us back and offers refreshment through Christ.
-RevMama in ND
For all those pondering the sex of the 2 travellers on the road to Emmaus:
I studied in Israel in 1993. I had the good fortune of walking the Emmaus Rd even though it is in left bank teritory. There is a church there - the Emmaus Church and one of the stain glassed windows has the picture of the story of the Emmaus Rd - and it is a man and a woman who are travelling
together on the road! I also have a question - I have read that Easter is a verb
- and a quote or prayer about- May God Easter in me/you but I cant remember.
does anyone know that meaning of Easter that I am referring to. Thanks. Nina in
the North
"Eric in KS, How are you doing? We prayed for you this past week." asked and said lp in CO
Fine, so far. Last Friday they took the first of two pints of blood to be used during the surgical "harvesting" of the marrow. The second will be drawn on Monday, 4/15.
The actual extraction of the marrow will be on 4/24.
They tell me that since I've signed the consent to donate "John" the recipient has started the process which will kill off his remaining bone marrow in preparation for the transplant -- which will take place within 12 hours of the harvesting of the marrow from me.
I've discovered during all the testing etc. associated with this that I may have a slight case of hypertension -- so after the harvesting, I'll be doing some more tests to find out about that.
Thanks for the prayers.
Blessings, Eric in KS
Their eyes were kept from Recognizing to that it what jumps out at me? Why? Perhaps If we utilize this illustration The Road to Emmaus...Like the Walk to remember thing... Dave K I am a West Ohio Preacher to Athens District. MY Title "The walk of your life" Think of the Emmaus road as our road, timeline, we are born, innocent to the world, faith of a child, then the age of acknowledgement comes, choices, we make, the beckoning of Prevenient Grace...calling us...One Day we choose to follow Christ, We no longer think Church is boring, We thirst after the word, we grow, perhaps even we teach sunday school, join UMW or UMM or UMYF (or other denomination counterparts of that) perhaps maybe we go thru a fallow time, we drift away, rebel... but Grace pulls us back...we feel the burning in our hearts...hearts strangely warmed...Suddenly with have that eye opening experience, the the two did here in this passage...(Holy Ghost Fire Baptism, spirit-filled to UMC) And then we can never be the same... I know this is pretty radical stuff for United Methodist! Holy Spirit in this way a novel concept- Acts 2 is historically viewed... Congregations today say,oh we don't need that, the early Church just did that, only the apostles performed 'those gitfts', I say, LOL! The Gifts are for all who ask, a banquet table has been prepared, all you have to is take and eat. The two invited Jesus home for supper, see the connection there? He took bread and he blessed it and gave it to them. That bread is for all, us today included... So, Listen, learn, accept Him, grow, and grow, eyes will Open When God allows them to, TI- MING , When is right, You will see! You are all invited! The Bread is already been blessed...Will you take and eat????? West Ohio "Methacostal"
Those were the Days my Friends- You should have been here yesterday- That is a good topic for Sunday's Sermon. Cleopas and his friend were putting Jesus away in the Past tense, until the breaking of the bread. A wonderful opportunity for preaching on the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the importance of attending regularly.
saintwin-Florida
Holy Heart burn and Methocostal! Wow! I love it, the HS is so important in our work. I would want to leave the womb without it! Methocostal I really like your piece, it can be a good tie in for the baptisms and life in the Spirit! Sorry not to have many bright ideas this week. Incidently, I have used the Runaway Bunny for adults too. I am making sheep ears for next week! Heads up all you shephards! Nancy-WI
My wife and I travelled south this past week as part of our annual post-Easter mini-sabbatical. We go from Connecticut to the mountains of Virginia, where we catch an early glance at pink peach trees in bloom, the gasp of redbuds on the greening hills. During the weekend we visited the closest town, where they were having a historical celebration of the community's Civil War history, including a visit from Robert E. Lee and a host of confederate soldiers re-enacting an encampment there. One of the highlights of the day was the capture of a Yankee spy. "Are we here too late to see 'em get the Yankee," we overheard one excited little boy say to his mom, tugging on her sleeve. I almost volunteered, "No, I'm over here." But I kept quiet, although it did give me just a little pause to leave my car with Connecticut license plates parked on the street nearby.
By and large these old differences have faded over the years, but I suspect that there are still a few suspicions that ooze to the surface when we hear each other talk. Differences in regional accents sometime are interpeted as differences in politics, world-view, religious style, and traditions. Sometimes we don't hear each other because we're so different. It occurred to me that maybe they didn't hear Jesus because his accent was different, and it wasn't till they spent some time with him that they felt his message sinking into their hearts, warming them all over like the pink peach trees and redbuds.
Maybe we have to be ready to hear Jesus' speak in a different accent, too.
The other possibility is that we don't recognize because the voice is too familiar, too common. We miss a lot of resurrection miracles because we are looking for fireworks instead of fireflies.
Too different and too familiar, both can be the reason we miss Jesus on the Emmaus road.
Thanks for listening to some ramblings.
Tim in Connecticut
wow, so much good stuff here! Thanks, everyone.
A follow-up question about hospitality codes: clearly, the Emmaus couple was just doing their duty. But how about Jesus? Would it have been normal for the guest to break the bread? (not sure this matters in the scheme of things, but just trying to imagine the scene and what it would have meant to those who first heard about it.)
re: Luke and women ... I really don't have an axe to grind, but as Pentecost is on the way, I'll raise a question I picked up from the UMW study guide on "Jesus and courageous women": why is it that these women who've been so central throughout Jesus' ministry, who hosted his meetings and financed his ministry and risked their lives by following him to the cross and were the first, at least, to find his body missing from the tomb -- why is it that they all disappear from the story by the day of Pentecost? Why does a whole new cast of women characters develop in Acts? Was Luke leaving out important info, or were the male followers of Jesus already pushing women out of the inner circle since Jesus wasn't there to welcome them in any more? Or is there some other explanation? Forgive me if this should be in the topical section, but it feels like a pertinent question to the lectionary for this season. --- Kay
Hey, friends! Lots of good stuff here to use as "thinking points" for this week. I'm not certain yet where I'm headed, but am working with the title "Eyes Wide Shut" for this pericope. This follows upon the theme from last week and one during Lent of "Seeing Is Believing". I may be belaboring the point of the disciples and others Jesus met needing to see before they can believe. It seems to me, though, that these stories all required a specific encounter with Jesus -- healing, scars, breaking bread -- in order for the characters to identify Jesus. In too many cases, those of us who claim the name of Jesus also need specific ways to identify Christ (or God or the Holy Spirit) at work in our own lives. We can't see the Presence until our eyes are opened.
Still just pondering all this....
StudentPastor in KS
I see in this passage that Jesus in the consummate teacher/transformer. First he walks with us; secondly, he listens to our burdens, our perspective; thirdly, he opens the scriptures to us in a way that answers our deepests longings, and finally, we see Christ in the stranger in our midst. The best of teachers do these things.
I'm reminded of two other passages when I read this story. In John Jesus says it is better for you that I go, otherwise the spirit will not come. We want to hold on to Jesus, to package him (eg. golden calf, baal, temple, laws). But we don't possess Jesus, he possesses us. We don't have to climb up to him, he is already with us, but we don't recognize him in the people around us.
Also I think of the end of Matthew 25. Do you want to recognize Jesus? Look to the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, imprisioned.
Our town of 7,000 had few minorities ten years ago, now it is 25% latino. This week I think I'm going to talk about hospitality. Seeing Jesus in our midst. And this idea, mentioned above, that when we think we're the host, we find we're the guest.
Dave in IA
My thought in the past week as been to build on the understanding that Easter is a Season and not just a day. To that end, I started preaching (last week) on "Living As Easter People: Faith" and focused on faith, doubts, questions, journey, etc. of Thomas and offerings of Shalom by Jesus. In trying to get to the (or a) central topic of the Emmaus Road experience to focus on... well, I'm just not there yet. There are many. My pen&ink lectionary group today was really focused on the Recognition/Eyes being open part. I'm still searching... and listening. Thanks! --RevAmy
I have considered calling my sermon, "Expectations and Disappointments - the Road to Enlightenment"
A fair while ago, in contemplating this text, I happened upon the insight, that what happens in the breaking of the bread, is that in that act, finally the inside is revealed. Until that point, no-one can see what it is like on the inside. The result of baking, cooking is completely hidden and unseen until that point. I can assure you, in cooking damper, that I have seen many dud loaves, that looked quite appealing on the outside. It is the inner substance of the loaf that satisfies, not the crust. The full impact of our efforts can only be revealed in the action of when the bread is broken open.
In the resurrection, God broke open the fullness of his plan for humanity. Until that point, Jesus true purpose was hidden or at least obscured, by our limited ability to appreciate who he truly was.
The people on the road to Emmaus were heading home because their expectations had not been met, and they were despondent and disappointed. Only in such a state, were they prepared to listen to the revealing nature of Christ. Prior to that, they simply were unwilling or unprepared to accept the inner message of the scriptures.
So many people read the scriptures and go to worship without any appreciate for the deeper meaning of their actions. Is it any wonder they come away from such things greatly disappointed.
So many people get their babies baptised without a full appreciation of what is occurring in the life of the child, or their own baptism.
To use another metaphor, for the bread, it is like a gift, that is never unwrapped. That gift can never be fully known or appreciated, we simply contemplate the wrapping paper/crust.
They recognised Christ in the breaking of the bread.
That is the only place you will fully appreciate him. A literal or superficial faith, will never reveal the glory of God.
There is a depth to this passage and all the resurrection appearances, which denies description.
The challenge is always to look deeper.
Regards for a great week.
KGB in Aussie
On the gender of the two: RSV has Jesus call them "Foolish men" in v. 25, but none of the other translations I have is gender specific. I don't think "ho anoetoi" is specific either.
Seems natural, in a male dominated society, that only the husband would be mentioned. The other one is just "Mrs. Cleopas". I have a rather familiar painting (no artist mentioned) of this scene which shows only one with a beard, and only he has shoes!?
We know from the story of the 12 year old boy Jesus that women did travel to Passover, so it should not be strange to find a couple who went, and are now going home. It would seem more strange that women did not go with their husbands.
On the idea of traveling and roads, Luke, more than the other Gospel writers, has Jesus "on the road" to Jerusalem, and on the way to die. Here he is "on the road again" (with apologies to Willie Nelson), helping people get back on the right road, away from gloom, dispair and death, and toward resurrection and new life.
JRW in OH
I think it was Philip Yancy that pointed out that during the war with the Soviet Union, Afghans lost one-third of their dwelling places. Yet, thanks to their tradition of hospitality, not a single person went homeless. How's that for welcoming the risen Christ and not even knowing it? Mark in NC
Luke has the two saying to one another, "Wee not our hearts burning witin us while he was talking tous on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us." A great quote that fits with this is from Kathleen Norris: "that 'to believe' is not a matter of the mind, but a matter of the heart. For what we 'believe' is what we 'give our heart to.'" RVM, North Carolina
