“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.” Luke 24:13-16 Last week I watch the Call from the Concordia Seminary St. Louis on the YouTube as it was virtual for the first time in its history. I watched Pres. Dale Meyer deliver a wonderful message and wow, did his voice boom in that sparsely filled Sanctuary. He talked about the road to Emmaus and what a journey that must have been for the two disciples. After the conclusion of the service, I sat in my recliner thinking about several points in his message that I might use one day in a devotion. IF you have never heard one of his messages, let me tell you, when Dale speaks; people listen.
My best story of Dr Dale Meyer took place in 2002, when Dr John Wilch invited me, the LCMS Missionary to Haiti, to speak at an LCC pastor’s conference in St. Catherine, Ontario, Canada. I assumed it would just be me speaking to a group of pastors but was surprised upon arrival to see the agenda with eight speakers, and I was to follow Dr Dale Meyer in the 11-noon time slot. Didn’t look like this was going to be a day to remember with much glee. I was sitting in the back of the auditorium with hundreds of other pastors and guests listening and waiting and Dr Meyer started at 10 and he was smooth, really interesting and I was taking notes. I looked at my watch and it was 11:15 and it seemed like he was wrapping up and he asked if there were any questions…of course there would be lots of questions.
Dr Wilch found me in the back and said that they decided to move my presentation to the cafeteria from noon to 1 PM. I was pretty sure that this was going to be a story that I would never forget as my day was not going to get any better. As I recall, there were four long rows of tables and chairs in that gymnasium, or cafeteria, as they called it and I was down in the left corner with a six-foot screen, projector, my laptop and no microphone.
I opened with a mealtime prayer and began my 50-minute presentation as the men and women were getting their food and sitting down in the first long row where I was speaking. If you have ever heard me speak, my voice carries fairly well but after that second row of tables filled my voice was drowned out by clinking china plates, clanging aluminum food containers, talking, laughing and general commotion. When I finished, my voice was gone, there wasn’t any food left and a few of the men sitting at the table where I was thanked me and said they felt bad for me.
I can’t begin to imagine how the two men walking to Emmaus felt after getting to meet the risen Savior, but it must have been a game changer for them. IF this Monday, your day seems to be headed in a bad direction, I hope that this story from my journey will give you hope, because other’s have a bad day now and then too. I have had the pleasure to ask Dr Meyer on a few occasions following a service where he has preached, when the pews are empty and its just him shaking my hand; “Dr Meyer, do you remember me? Pastor Conference, St. Catherine’s, Ontario, 2002.” He has such a genuine warm smile.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay