God Bless Us One And All

Today I am traveling home for Christmas...and I am traveling on a Greyhound Bus. I do expect it to be an adventure; of sorts, not like hunting big game in a distant land kind of an adventure, but an adventure none the less. And as a reference point I feel like I need to share with you all that this is "not" my first time to board a Greyhound Bus for places unknown...I have traveled by bus many more times than I would really care to admit.

For those of you that went to School with me, either Junior High School OR High School...most of you weren't privy to the fact that by the time I was 13...8th grade(?)...I was nearing the "Professional" status of utilizing buses as a mode of transportation. One of the things my younger brother Joey and would do as children; was to travel to where ever my oldest brother was during the summer and spend the summer with him....AND one such adventure was when I was 9 and Joey was 8 (you see Mom and Dad got "busy" when they got married, and Joey and I were born 1 year and 18 days apart). Our Little ol' Momma; Thelma, for those of you who do not know her. Put us on the Greyhound Bus bound for Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Now Momma being "our" Momma (the little Cajun gal that she is) told us all about "those men" who liked little boys, and for us to always stay together, AND to never...never go to the rest room alone, under any circumstances. We were from then on armed with the essentials that we needed to know about traveling alone - and that was all she needed to do. Because "we all" listened to Momma's when she told us to do something back then...didn't we? And OF course she also told the bus driver to make sure we got from one bus to the other. It was almost like the bus driver "knew" Momma would hunt him down and "slay" him if anything happened to us, and being the little Cajun that she is..."that" is exactly what would have happened, BUT he did as he was asked and we did wht she told us, and he lived (hopefully he live a long and productive life), and we made it all the way there and back.

Now jump ahead a few summers when I was 13...after baseball season - I started a new summer tradition and I would go to Houston and work as an Commercial Insulator's Helper with my Uncle Pick (which is a whole story in itself). I bought my first dirt bike, and kept it in Houston at my Aunt and Uncle's house, SO Momma would put me on a "Greyhound Bus" on Friday afternoon and pick me on Sunday afternoon - just so I could go and ride my dirt bike. My Momma is truly the bomb (thank you Momma)...and I did this for a number of years every few weekends until I got my driver licenses and I started driving, and working after school and of course cruising the Nederland drag. All the things that children (young men and women) did when we were growing up. But that in a nut shell that is how I gained the Professional status at such an early age of riding Greyhound Buses.

Now you guys are most likely trying to figure out what this has to do with my walk in Christ by now...and to be totally honest - I was just sharing a little about my crazy childhood; some of my fond memories. But it all really ties together, because it played a large roll in getting me to this place I am at today (Dec 23, 2009)...riding a Greyhound Bus. While on this particular bus ride...of course there is the perpetual people watching of all types, sizes and shapes. But I got to witness an exchange between two totally different people from two totally different walks of life. AND it was glorious in the eyes of God.

And it all started out with the most fundamental aspect of being a Christian. Which is: "we", as Christians are suppose to share with others our love for "our" God through how we carry ourselves, and to being a witness for God through the sharing of His word(just to name a couple). And we are suppose to be on stand-by for when God opens that door for us. I got to witnessed a simple exchange between two "extremely" different cultures...two totally different people, and as I said it was a testimony of how great God is. I don't know what religion is prevalent in Nepal...BUT I am thinking it isn't Christianity. I believe it may be something like Hinduism, Buddhism...doesn't really matter, but what does matter is I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman from Nepal, and his name was Broon(I believe that is what he said). Broon had sat a few rows ahead of me after this one stop so he could enjoy the countryside, and an Amish gentleman sat next to him.

How different could two worlds be? One man lives where the sky and the earth become one. While the other one lives in a world of farming here in America and of simple-ness, or as they say - they live "plain" lives. BUT after thinking about this for just a moment; maybe there worlds aren't really that different after all...just a thought? I have to say that my arsenal is not that strong when it comes to testifying, or guiding people to God...I try, but I am lacking in this aspect of my walk for now. BUT before I knew it the Amish gentleman was showing Broon his bible...I found this totally amazing and I loved it. It was an awesome witness to the glory of God...and I sat there in amazement of the glory that was being shared between two total strangers...calmly...peacefully and with a total lack of concern with what was going on around them or who was around to see what was going on. Now that was a priceless moment - to me anyhow.

I sat there and thought just how appropriate that was for me to witness in the Christmas season...the "giving" that took place on a crowded Greyhound Bus in the middle of America, the melting pot of the world founded on the love of God for us all to be a part of; if we choose to do so.

Until next time...

Father God I can't thank you enough for putting me on that crowed uncomfortable bus to witness the love that only You can be the center of. For bringing Your love to the forefront for all to see in this season that You created for us. As You shared Your love by giving us Jesus all those years ago. We come to You to acknowledge that Your love still reigns in this world. Father we ask that You continue to show us Your love, Your peace, Your never ending truth...and for You to continue to be our purpose, our Guiding Light in this time of encroaching darkness. We come to You today Father seeking the truth in all You do for us, and thank You for your never ending love. In Jesus'' name we pray, Amen