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, 2016
