At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master, Jesus. That same day two of them were walking to the village of Emmaus about seven miles outside of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if He were going on but they pressed Him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." (Luke24: 1-2; 13-15; 28-29 MSB)

In 1957, Dinah Washington sang a song, titled 'What a Difference a Day Makes' which won her a Grammy in 1959. As a kid, I remember hearing this song over and over again the summer after my great-grandfather was killed in an automobile accident. My great-grandmother, who loved to listen to the blues, found comfort in the lyrics of this song. I cannot remember all of the lyrics, but I do remember the first line. It went something like this, "What a difference a day made, twenty four little hours brought the sun and the flowers where there used to be rain."

I do not know what day it was that made the difference in her life, but all of us have a day or some special occasions that we can say made a difference in our lives. For some, it may have been the day a child was born. For others, it may have been the day you got married. But whatever the occasion, those kinds of emotion filled days leave a lasting impression on us that causes us to remember the feelings we experienced. Those are the type of days that can bring deep meaning to us for the rest of our lives.

As I look back and remember, one of those touchstone days in my life happened on my Walk to Emmaus. On the first night they told us that the two disciples made that journey in one day, but we were going to take three days. Well, I was there for three days, but each day was so different it seemed as if I was there for three one day experiences. Each day brought me more spiritual strength and healing. The same is true for the disciples. They made the walk in one day, but look what all happened in that one day. First, they walked alone grieving and talking about the death of Jesus. Secondly, a stranger came alone and warmed their hearts. Thirdly, they broke bread with the stranger and recognized Him and finally on that same day, they left in enthusiasm to tell the others what they had experienced. That's exactly what happened to me on the road to Emmaus.

Like the two disciples that walked that Emmaus road on that first Easter, I was taking a walk through my brokenness. As I began the walk wondering how or whether God could or would use me in service anymore, Jesus showed up and spoke to my heart. As I continued to walk along with Him on that three-day journey, He reminded me of how much He loved and wanted me and that warmed my heart. After we had broken bread together on that second day, I was ready to tell the world about this Jesus who revealed Himself to me in a way that I had never seen Him before.  

What a difference that weekend made in my life. Emmaus made a difference in my enthusiasm, my endurance, my understanding of evangelism, and in my everyday living. While Emmaus is not a place to take people to fix them, for me it was what I need to continue in my faith walk. What a difference a day makes. In one day, I discovered that the power of new life and resurrection is available on The Road to Emmaus. 

My assignment for this article was to introduce someone to The Walk to Emmaus. The best way I know to do that is to simply ask you to think about my experience and then ask yourself: "When have I been on the road to Emmaus?" Where on that road did God meet me and bring me to the place I am today in my Christian walk?"

If you can remember what part of that road that made a difference in your life, I ask you to respond by going back to that place and allowing God to use you to serve others who travel a similar path. I learned that weekend, that God not only calls us to invite and receive, but He also calls us to respectfully respond and to share the impossible, but good news, that CHRIST IS RISEN!