There's a widely held belief
that all those roads that they say
lead to Rome, are always straight,
driven right through or over every
obstacle, in order that
the armies of the empire
might not be impeded as
they went about their duties
ensuring Pax Romana was
benevolently imposed.
But as ingenious and
As enduring as Roman
engineering is, my road
to Rome has had many twists
and turns, and was in no way
inevitable. I had many
choices to make, not least the
choice to stop seeking to take
the lead, because I know best;
instead to simply follow.
And so I walk along the
Via Appia with damp,
disparate disciples,
following the footsteps of
the first followers, without
the risk of martyrdom by
cruel, imperial powers,
so far, much more likely to
be mown down by impatient
Roman drivers in the rain.
But as would-be emperors
over-reach, encouraging
Armageddon, we are called
to continue our journey,
rather than hunker down in
catacombs, or to retreat
to our familiar and
comfortable small corners,
to await miraculous,
rapturous deliverance.
Not all roads lead to Rome, nor
are they always straight and clear
and paved with gold or even
stone, but as we walk where saints
have walked before us in the
company of the saints who
still walk with us, we may, step
by faltering step lay down
a better way to get to
the city God has promised.
Selah
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