32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24: 32

Sometimes it’s not what we see but what we don’t see that counts. The two that Jesus appeared to as they walked from Jerusalem didn’t know who it was talking with them. Jesus was right in front of their very eyes and they didn’t know it. They didn’t recognize Him. I wonder how often this happens to us? Jesus is all around and yet we miss Him. We miss the gentle words, the soothing spirit, the careful guidance that comes with walking with the Savior. We just miss it because we are caught up in the smaller stories, or the “shadow” stories of our lives. The stories that go sideways instead of up. The stories that are ending instead of beginning. And right there in front of our eyes, the Lord is birthing something new and lovely! And we miss it.

As leaders it’s really important to pay attention to what has happened in the past and what you may dream about in the future but certainly don’t neglect what is happening right in front of you! As these two walked with Christ their hearts burned within them but they didn’t know why. It was because they were missing something right in front of their very eyes! What are you missing that’s right in front of you? How is your heart burning…aching…longing? Maybe Christ is right there trying to say something to you? Show you something? Show you Himself?

Leaders need to be able to see Christ at work when others don’t. Leaders have to be able to look at things that are not and cannot be seen yet and know that they will be seen soon. It’s about moving from the present into the future. It’s about getting people from one place to another, which is what Christ did in this story. He walked with the two disillusioned disciples all the way back and then even stayed with them sharing a meal before they became aware. Sometimes, you will have to walk with people a fair little bit before they become aware of all that Christ is speaking into their lives. Walking into someone’s life means that you have to help them see and hear Christ who is walking and talking with them when you are not around. This is the essence of discipleship: not that people would rely on you but they become able to rely on walking with and recognizing Christ on their own.

Our task as leaders is to fix our eyes on Christ ourselves and then help others to see how Christ is working and moving and speaking in their world. Don’t miss Christ in the daily routine of walking from place to place, in conversations and dialogue, for it may be in those very things that Christ burns His Truth in our hearts.

Final Thought:  Focus on what God is doing now. What is He saying now? How do you see Him at work now? Enjoy the conversation with God now and you will end up in the right place then.