From the Lay Director:Wally Briggs
From the Book of Exodus we find the Israelite community “grumbling” about being hungry in the wilderness. From the 16th chapter:
Having set out from Elim, the whole Israelite community came into the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month* after their departure from the land of Egypt. Here in the wilderness the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our kettles of meat and ate our fill of bread! But you have led us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of famine!”
The Quail and the Manna.
Then the LORD said to Moses: I am going to rain down bread from heaven* for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in, let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days.
So Moses and Aaron told all the Israelites, “At evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, when he hears your grumbling against him. But who are we that you should grumble against us?” And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening and in the morning your fill of bread, and hears the grumbling you utter against him, who then are we? Your grumbling is not against us, but against the LORD.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole Israelite community: Approach the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.” But while Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they turned in the direction of the wilderness, and there the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud! The LORD said to Moses: I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them: In the evening twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have your fill of bread, and then you will know that I, the LORD, am your God. In the evening, quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew all about the camp, and when the layer of dew evaporated, fine flakes were on the surface of the wilderness, fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
GRUMBLING. They had witnessed the ten plagues and still grumble. They were spared from numerous plagues and still grumbled. They had death pass over them yet they still grumbled. They watched the pillar of fire protect them from Pharoah's army and they grumbled. They walked through the parted Red Sea and still grumbled. They watched Egypt's army drown in the waters and grumbled. They got a little hungry and you guessed it, they grumbled. They didn't pray, they complained. Yet God's unwavering love and mercy for them provided their “daily bread” of manna, plus some quail to go with it.
And here I am, in the wilderness grumbling about men's walk #150 being canceled. I experienced my life changing attending walk #119, but I still grumble. I have experienced many walks working in the conference room and witnessed the impact it has had on many pilgrims, still I grumble. I have served in the prayer room praying for speakers and pilgrims I didn't know, witnessing answered prayers and being in awe of the people I have heard pray, and I grumble. I gather monthly with a community that serves, loves and sacrifices, but I grumble.
Last Saturday I made a decision to attend the last team training session for women's walk #151. I spoke as the community lay director and thanked them for their willingness to serve on the team for the walk. My reasons for attending were more selfish than supportive. I needed a little Emmaus that Saturday morning. Maybe a little quail and manna. A little Alan Jackson music. A little Michael Watts food. A little Marylou Stephens devotion. A little fellowship with friends. I did partake in Holy Communion with the team. As we read the Emmaus Canon every line was penetrating my heart.
“Other people are the main reason for my presence and prayers”: therefore “I” must be used as little as possible during these three days. This team is more important than me.
My focus recently has been too much on “I”. Grumbling to many instead of being thankful for all the blessings I have experienced through Emmaus. Focusing on failure instead of this amazing opportunity in front of us with women's walk #151. Thank you team of walk #151 for letting me tag along last Saturday. I needed to experience your mercy and grace to help me understand that Emmaus has always been and will always be a blessing in my life. You all have turned my grumblings to praise and prayers for the upcoming walk.
De Colores / Fly with Christ
Rejoice, Rejoice, and again I say Rejoice!