Where Are You Headed?

Taken from a message shared on Palm Sunday in Nashville, TN but around here it feels like one long, crushing Good Friday following the recent tragic mass shooting. I got a text from a member of church that read: “It feels like we are in the wilderness with Jesus bewildered and depleted of energy…” Yep! It called to mind a series of devotional talks given in 1962 by the great Howard Thurman, regarded as the Chaplain of the Civil Rights Era.  Called “At the Crossroad” Thurman portrays Jesus’ decision to go to Jerusalem for the last time as a crossroads dilemma. Should he go back home to a life of comfort? Or to Jerusalem where he will face the cross but also the crown of trusting God and following God’s divine will for his life. My “guest” is the words of Howard Thurman from his devotional talk as he asks the question: “Where are you headed?” It is a good question for us to ask of ourselves - and our community and nation - especially in light of these tragic and avoidable events. What is meant for us to decide if we will trust God and follow Jesus who parades into Jerusalem on a donkey?

Tags: Nashville Mass Shooting; Matthew 21-1-11; Howard Thurman’s “At the Crossroad”