A famous country singer named Willie Nelson has a popular song entitled, “On the Road Again”

It's a song that talks about the journey of life you take with people as you travel through life.  As believers we are all on a journey with Christ and one another.  On this journey no matter the ups or downs, we know our help only comes from one place as we see in Psalms 121:1-2 "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth." 

Like all journeys that we take it will involve leaving the safe places that we enjoy and to take some risks.  Just an Abraham and Sarah were dispatched by God to leave and go to an unknown land.  They were sent out to be blessed and be a blessing. But that only happens when we leave the comfort of where we are and launch out on God, and trust him for our provisions and to be a channel of his blessings for others. 

As Brueggemann notes, “it is to be to the neighborhood of shalom, the neighborhood of shared resources, inclusive politics, of random acts of hospitality and intentional acts of justice, fearless neighborliness that is not propelled by greed or anxiety or excessive self-preoccupation.”  

As we review This Psalm we are assured of the faithfulness of God to be our companion along this journey.  As he has told us many times before, in many different ways, ”I will never leave you or forsake you,” and I will be with you to the end of this age. Brueggemann call us to a “new neighborhood” free from the trappings of the world systems to a simple life of freedom in Christ and joy with one another. 

Brueggemann’s prayer for us, “Self-giving God, call us to walk the road of newness-a new self, a new society, a new world, one neighbor at a time. May we have traveling mercies this Lenten season. Amen." 

Let’s all get back on the road again and embrace the journey with God and companionship of Christ. While we look forward to the destination, it is the journey that we never want to abandon or miss, because my help is from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.