The Dusty Road
By Kendra Osborn
“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ "
Luke 9:57
Questapalooza was here! It was the day my youngest son had been looking forward to for quite a while. He was excited about the rides and games and I was looking forward to hearing Jars of Clay and Third Day. What I had not done was bought our tickets in case the event was rained out. It ended up being a beautiful day so we headed out early to get in the ticket line.
After I made our purchase I quickly bent down to put my wallet back in my backpack when I heard this man say “Ticket for one please.” Because I was still squatting I looked to my left and saw this man was wearing sandals and couldn’t help but notice his feet. Once I noticed them my head quickly shot back so I could get a look at the man’s face. Yep, the features on his face were what I thought I might find after looking at his feet.
He was an older gentleman, long gray hair, leathered looking skin, quite a few wrinkles, and hardly a tooth in his head. What made him beautiful was the warmth from his smile. I felt like I was staring at him for several minutes but it was actually a just a few seconds and he walked away.
I couldn’t stop thinking about that man all day. I kept wondering if he was okay and if he was having fun, alone. I wondered who he came to see out of the three bands that were playing. For some reason I really wanted to watch him worship. I kept my eyes open all day, hoping to see him again but I never did.
Even today I think about him but now it’s beyond the surface questions of how’s he doing. I can’t stop thinking about his feet! Let me just stop right there. If you really knew me you would know there has to be something wrong for me to think about someone’s feet, especially old, rough, hard and dirty feet. You see I hate feet. With the exception of new born babies, I just don’t like feet. But God speaks to us even through the things we don’t find appealing and that is just what He did with that man’s feet.
I began to wonder what road he had traveled for his feet to become so dirty and calloused. I was curious as to what he had encountered in life and what he had survived. What did it look like? Was it rough or smooth, old or new, steep or level, dusty or clean? Was it full of joy or pain, laughter or tears? All these questions about his road raced through my mind. But the biggest was what road did he travel to follow Jesus?
Well, you know the Lord can take a question you have about someone else and He can quickly make it a personal question. That is just what God did. He asked me “What road have I traveled to follow Jesus?” Wow, the tables were suddenly turned and I had to take a good look at my own feet!
I have been that man in Luke and told Jesus “I will follow You wherever you go.” As I began thinking my road I couldn’t help but think about all the roads I’ve read about in the Word. The thousands of people that traveled them and the encounters they had with our precious Jesus.
All the roads the Disciples traveled following Jesus. Crowds would gather as Jesus walked down the road just to get a glimpse of Him and hoping to get a touch of the Messiah. The two men on the road to Emmaus walked with Him. The road Mary Magdalene and the other Mary traveled led to the tomb.
What about the road called Via Dolorosa and the man named Simon, a Cyrenian, who was forced to travel the road and follow Jesus carrying His cross? The road he traveled was long, hard, dusty and full of pain for the One he followed. He was not the only one following Jesus that day, for there were a multitude of people who followed Him (Luke 23:26-27).
I began to ask myself about my own road and what has it looked like so far? I can’t imagine the journey for Simon and the multitude that followed Jesus on the road that led to Golgotha. Do I put myself there today, on that road, following Him to the Way of the cross? Do I suffer for His sake or for the sake of the world?
Out of all the people in the crowd mentioned in Luke 23 I don’t want to be Simon who was physically taken hold of and forced to carry Jesus’ cross. He had no choice but was forced to follow Jesus. I want to follow Him willingly, fully surrendered to the path He has for me. Following Him because of the love He displayed when He stretched out His arms and for the promise He fulfilled the day He rose from the grave and Victory was won!
Who are you in the crowd? What road have you traveled to follow Jesus?
Pray with me: Abba Father, how great You are. Precious and Mighty, King of Kings and the Name above all names. I come before Your throne and worship You in spirit and in truth.
Thank You Father for the cross, for Your death and Your resurrection. Thank You for the dusty road You have walked and for inviting me to follow You. I pray I continue to follow You with a willing heart. Help me to surrender my soul to You so that You can use me for Your glory. Show me Your ways Lord. Show me the road You have marked specifically for me. I pray I will stay faithful and follow You wherever You lead no matter what the terrain looks like. If it’s full of joy or sorrow, laughter or tears I will follow You until I draw my last breath. Help me not to become distracted by other people’s roads around me and keep me from straying. Lead me to the cross and help me keep my eyes on You so that Your glory will be displayed for all to see. In the precious and mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.