Pilgrim's Progress

I went for a hike with some friends today. High up in the hills, and down valleys. We had a map between us, a book guide, and a compass on my i-phone! What should have been a four and half mile walk turned into a 6 mile walk as we got lost twice, once quite badly. To get back to the path, rather than retrace our footsteps we had to slide down a hill on our bottoms.
We also encountered two walkers who assured us we were on the right path, and a farm hand who said the same.
Four hours later we reached the pub where we had left our cars.

I will let you make your own conclusions about the journey of life, wrong turns and  guides, but I had another thought on the way home -


We had done a sort of Emmaus journey. Part one was when we travelled along, swapping stories, and not realising that Christ was at our side - The Liturgy of the Word. Part two was when we shared a meal, and at last were refreshed. The Liturgy of the Eucharist.
At that meal the travellers were unaware of Christ's presence too, and as soon as they recognised him he disappeared.
We can't see Christ now, but he is the stranger who walks next to us, and sits next to us on the bus.
It would be so good if we could treat everyone with the reverence they deserve.

There is an ad in England at the moment, asking for sponsors, where a young girl from a Third World country talks about how invisible she is. That's another whole area to consider. Christ isn't only next to us, he's far away. Do I recognise him? And what do I do about it.