Andrew responds simply, "Teacher, where are You staying?" In other words, "Jesus, where can I find You when I want You?" It's a question many of us have asked from time to time. It's a question I was asking soon after our move to Montreal. Along with all the other familiar support structures, it often felt like Jesus too was in a land far away.
Jesus didn't give Andrew a single, simple answer that would work forever after. Jesus didn't say, "To find Me go to First Street, first house on the right." Instead, Jesus' answer to Andrew was an invitation--to adventure! "Come and see."
For me in Montreal, Jesus didn't give a single, simple answer either. He didn't promise, "You will encounter Me if only you read your Bible and pray for 20 minutes every day." Neither did He say, "You will find Me, if you just get actively involved with peace and justice issues."
Jesus gave the open-ended invitation to adventure. In those weeks of disconnectedness, I became aware of meeting Jesus in unexpected places--such as in the kindness of a store clerk who said, "Oh, that's what you need? I have extra from my display. Just take them."
Jesus says, "To find Me, come and see." It's an invitation to adventure.
This one is by Mary Anne Isaak, a member of McIvor Ave. MB Church in Winnipeg and an associate member of Mennonite Fellowship of Montreal.