Spiritual Companionship
Invitation. A gentle stroll and quiet moment with a companion. This can be practiced any time in your day where a break from the indoors, the fullness of work or school—a loving check-in with a friend is welcomed.
Der Gang nach (The Road to Emmaus 1891)
On the road, two companions walk sharing what is presently going on in their lives. As they speak and listen to one another, a burning within begins to reveal a greater Presence. Jesus is also with them. Later in the day, they eventually turn to one another and say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”—Luke 24:32
Pause. Take a moment to close your eyes. Imagine where you are in this moment. Whom is with you?
Invite the Presence of the Spirit, Jesus Himself into your place of pause.
Listen and wonder, what is He saying? or Just rest with Him. Pause. and Breathe.
one afternoon
A few weeks ago, a spontaneous beautiful thing took place, a little bit of an Emmaus yet in Albuquerque. My youngest son and I took a stroll through a few neighborhoods on our way to a local brewery for lunch. As we walked side by side, a conversation, or more like a checkin was sparked about “How we are presently doing in life?”
We began a companioning pattern on our walk, taking turns giving voice to the question through a slow and gentle back and forth non-probing way. But evoking real things going on, a sweet sustaining vulnerableness, with listening, being kind and generous as we shared—together.
It went something like this, where we took turns with an image from nature, a *rose, and began naming:
A rose —“something beautiful” going on in your life
A bud —“something good, but also challenging”
A stem —“something true you are learning or seeing”
ending with
A seed —“the state of your soul”
The answers were raw not coated, accepted and not questioned.
They could be in any order except the seed—this was left for the last sharing.
Along the path, companioning one another began, more strolling and naming. And there’s more deepening, the spirit burning within and awakening, opening places of clarity, healing, and intimacy— both with God and one another.
We took our time and even carried on throughout our lunch, ordering and then eating, listening and voicing.
In the end, there was what felt-like a resemblance of celebrating all that was spoken, even the hard—all of this was inner beauty flowing outward. It was with Him, the One on the road with us. The One holding all things together for our good.
May you enjoy something of a rose with a spiritual companion—much like an Emmaus!
*rose idea modified from my son’s friend —Thank you, V!
