The following message is part of an effort to establish and strengthen communication throughout the Emmaus community and is offered in the spirit of cooperation and charity.
Have you ever examined what we do on an Emmaus Walk and why we do it? How many times have you heard, “what we do, we do for the pilgrims”? This is easy to say, but can become very difficult to remain faithful to. I have often said to folks, “This is a wonderful movement, except for the people”. Many of you know me well enough that I am at the top of that list of “people”. Because of our humanness, we are weak and seek much in life that is self-serving. We really don’t mean to be this way, but truthfully we are.
The originators of the Walk To Emmaus worked diligently to structure each part in such a way that each added to the previous part and enhanced the whole. In every case the objective was to bring the pilgrim closer to Jesus, all the while glorifying God. With prayerful discernment, wisdom, and inspiration from the Holy Spirit, our movement was birthed; not only in fact, but also with written guidelines to help us learn in the present, teach for the future, and maintain the quality assurance necessary for consistency through the years.
So what is my responsibility in all of this? Why am I required to dot “i’s” and cross”t’s” to the tune of a handbook full of “rules”? Recently a short list of Core Elements was established so every community could know exactly which elements of the walk were to be performed without compromise. What would Emmaus look like in a few years if every community did what was right in their own eyes? We have wonderful creative people all through Emmaus that can develop innovative new ways to put on walks, but again, where will we be in a short period of time?
I bought into this program just as it was intended many years ago. This is why I do what I do. I believe Emmaus is worthy of more than I am capable of in training communities to simply accept what the originators set down for us over 30 years ago. What right do I have to impose my changes on the Walk format? After all, this is a copyrighted program of the Upper Room, not one owned by my community or yours.
As I have signed my Letter of Agreement in past years, I was very much aware of the covenantal relationship with the Upper Room. I also was very much aware of the personal conviction I was under if I signed it and had no intentions of doing what the agreement said.
How about you and your community, are you on track with the core elements or maybe doing things the way you always have done them, regardless of their correctness?
If there is anything I can help you with, please let me know for I am both
Scoofer Jordan
S/E Regional Rep.