A Bus Ride to Christmas

 

 

A Bus Ride to Christmas

 

When I was in the crowded store of last minute Christmas shoppers yesterday, I was jostled about, but in a most merry way! People were in a hurry but they took time to say excuse me and even, whish me a Merry Christmas! It was then I remembered of many years ago a very special Christmas Eve when I experienced a bus ride to Christmas.

I was on my first job in the big city away from home as a clerk in a drug sore. And for weeks we worked over time and now I was so tired I could barely move. I was so glad the store had closed early on Christmas Ever.

 People had seemed extra anxious, and even rude as the days had gotten closer to Christmas. Fear and anxiety abounded that year and I could understand. For in this particular year extremely hard times had struck in Seattle. It was 1967 and thousands had lost their jobs and someone had even put on a huge billboard, "When the last person leaves- please turn out the lights."

As we were send on our way out of the store on that dark and cold Christmas Eve I trudged precariously across the ice laden sidewalk to catch my bus on the corner across the street.  I was not able to really go "home" for the Christmas to be with my family, there just wasn't the money to make the trip. It was the first time for me in my whole life to be away from my loved ones at Christmas, where I always knew Christmas was there with them. I couldn’t imagine anything else.

About ten of us huddled around the bus stop all staring up the street hoping the bus would be on time.  I was quiet as I listened to the crowd around me voice their anxiety that they were expecting this bus to be very late tonight. The streets were solid ice and very few buses in Seattle were equipped with chains in those years.  We all stamped our feet, stuffed our hands deeper into our pockets trying to bear the sub-zero air.

Finally one of the oldest shuttle busses I had ever seen came into sight. But hardly moving, it came crawling at what seemed to be in slow motion. The bus literally slid to the curb with a bump! It made everyone jump back in fear of coming right on over and smashing into us. The bus door slid open with a whoosh and warm air greeted us as we crowded inside. Weariness among us was palpable and no one spoke as they found they made their way and sit down for the journey we all prayed would soon begin.

We were grateful when door of the bus shut out the freezing air and we waited anxiously to get going.  But as the driver pushed hard on the gearshift making a horrible sound and that’s when-the engine quit! Over and over again he tried to start the bus. We all groaned in unison a mutual unbelief. The longer we sat there the more the cold air began to seep through the bus with biting, brittle coldness way.  

There were no cell phones back in those days, so the bus driver had to pick up his coin box, put on his hat and gloves and look for the nearest phone booth to call for back up. The minute he stepped out the door and with great effort pushed it shut again, people started shouting, complaining, and even standing up waving their fists in anger!

I felt very small, and very alone, and even frightened.  I huddled down in my seat and said a little prayer to God for help soon.

When I was startled to hear from way in the back of the bus a voice shout out, "Oh for heaven’s sake, be quiet all of you! It’s Christmas! Did ya forget?"

I turned to look down the aisle to see who was talking. I observed it was an older woman who earlier had struggled greatly to carrying three huge shopping bags making her way the last seat in back that could accommodate her bulk and all her Christmas cargo too.

Then the most amazing thing happened! The woman began to sing! Softly at first, then louder with a deep full voice signing with soul filling the bus from back to front. As she sang Away in the Manager one by one― everyone else joined in. The beloved and familiar Christmas songs continued one after another and fear passed away on that bus because joy and peace came singing on in.

Suddenly in mid song we all paused as a rush of cold air blew in as the bus driver jumped in quickly out of the cold wind.  I smiled as I saw his face filled with amazement at what he heard and saw happening on the bus compared to the turmoil of when he left before. He just stood there listening and smiling, for now his bus was not full of strangers, but people in fellowship and song.

"It will be awhile before they come with another bus folks," he said, "I'm awful sorry, and I know, it’s Christmas Eve too."

The song-leading woman drew herself up slowly from the backseat and dragged one of the shopping bags to the front of the bus and said, "Here, we all might as well enjoy ourselves. It’s the season to share, let’s enjoy some Christmas cookies. And let's remember its all about Jesus!"

"Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord "(Psalm 105:3).

As she offered the decorated and delicious cookies all around, people laughed, sang some more and enjoyed themselves.  In the most surprising place I could ever imagine, when I thought home was the only place to find the real Christmas spirit of love and joy, here I was on a very cold bus, among strangers sharing, singing, and believing once again in Jesus’ love in a most unexpected place, with the most unusual company.

I pondered of God’s perfect timing and goodness. And isn’t this how He chose His Son to be born? It was not with family at home he was born, but in a distant place, among strangers. Not in a warm castle as a king as some would have thought He should be.  

It was one of the most memorable Christmases I ever have experienced to this day.  And as I stepped off the bus I felt high in the true joy of Christmas spirit. I was young in years but I became wise in the ways of God’s mercy and love and so happy to have been part of the little celebration on that cold broken down bus. 

I pondered in awe of how I had found the gift of God’s love with unity and peace in the midst of strangers and hard times. That because one woman was bold enough to speak up, to sing out and to share Jesus.

"Giving ourselves is the most costly gift, and the most valuable." Janette Oke

 

“A Bus Ride to Christmas” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 24, 2015