The Wheels on the Bus

Can you remember the last time you rode the bus? Was it when you were a pubescent teenager who had yet to turn 16 and needed a ride to school? Or maybe it was when you took that last trip with the high school football team to an away game, or with the college athletes? I wonder how many skills it took in order to be successful in your voyage? Well, let's see. You had to be able to climb a few steps up, and in turn climb a few steps down. You had to be able to bend your knees in order to place your gluteous maximus on a cushion. And....that's about it. So, if I were to say to you, "I can ride the bus all by myself," that sounds like nothing more than a kindergarten feat. However, let me assure you that here in Brasilia there are MANY skills necessary to ride the public bus AND actually arrive at your intended destination. They are as follows in no certain order of necessity, for all skills are required. :)

1. Require absolutely no personal space - be willing to sit beside/stand beside/nudge absolutely anyone, no matter their gender, age, color, or hygiene.
2. Endurance - be willing walk any uncertain distance in order to get to the nearest bus stop.
3. Bravery - one must be able to cross the public highway in order to arrive at the APPROPRIATE bus stop.
4. Know the route that will lead you to your destination - remember that buses are named by their ending destination. Many buses may end at the same point, but travel very different routes to get there. Your stop may be somewhere along the way, but remember to only get on the bus that is using the correct road/highway, of which there are many! Or you may end up in a very dangerous suburb, as I have done. And don't forget there are MANY buses. Choose carefully.
5. One must always carry very small bills - due to the fact that the bus attendant will not break larger bills at all, on must be ALWAYS prepared and have small change.
6. Stand, walk, remain standing, and remain walking forward on very rapidly moving/stopping/ swerving ground. - this is pretty self explanatory. It doesn't take a genius to realize that all around the world traffic laws don't hold the same weight. Here in Brazil, they are more like suggestions. Very rarely remembered, utilized, and enforced suggestions.
7. Study, study, study - speak loudly so the driver can hear you, speak clearly so he/she understand you, and remember do it in a language you have only been studying for 3 months. :)
8. Be armed and ready - the bus station and the actual buses are one the most common places to be attacked and stolen from....especially if you're as pale and as pretty as me.

Ah..what an accomplishment. Riding the bus in Brasilia, Brazil. I will admit that I am proud of my victory.

As I was on one of my daily adventures across the city for a mere price of 3,00R ($1.80) thinking to myself that I was so thankful to have mastered this form of transportation, the Lord began to whisper a little parable into my ear. Riding the bus here is a lot like my walk with Jesus Christ, and I will be so bold to submit that it's like your walk with the Lord also. All the skills necessary to be successful on my daily earthly route, are also required to master my daily path with the Lord. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must do the following (notice the correlation).

1. Be willing to get involved with people the Lord places in our lives daily....no matter if it's uncomfortable, stinky, or troublesome. Just know in your walk, it's necessary in order to get where you're going.
2. Sometimes it takes effort to locate the place the Lord would have you to be. Be willing to do something in order to stay on track with the Lord. It doesn't happen by osmosis. The path the Lord has for you, may not magically appear under your feet. You may have to find it.
3. There may be moving objects, fiery darts even that are headed right at you. Keep a watchful eye. Sharpen your movements and be aware of the obstacles that will try to deter you.
4. Don't guess that you are headed in the right direction. Know in your spirit you are going forward and pursuing the things of God in the direction that He has led you.
5. Be ready always to offer a small amount of love, word, encouragement to someone in need. Be prepared! There is a time for being silent, and there is a time to speak. If you arrive at a point where your voice should be heard, where truth should be shared, then be ready. Be bold. Be prepared.
6. The Lord never said that walking with Him would be smooth sailing. He calls Himself our "strong tower" for a reason, because unexpected events, storms, potholes, and shaking will come. We must remain standing, remain pressing forward. Do you have that skill? When the shaking comes do you falter, or do you stand upon the Rock, Jesus Christ? Lord, help us to stand. Nothing can deter us from pursuit of the things of the Lord.
7. Be willing at admit that there is more for you to learn. Maybe the Lord is trying to train you in a ministry, a gift. Are we teachable?
8. The devil roams the earth like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Make sure that isn't you. Know that you are not immune to being stolen from or attacked. Have you put on your armor today? When we don't arm ourselves, we are living our life in way that says, "I'm up for grabs. Come and get it. Take all I have." The word is powerful. Know it.

Every day is an adventure. Physically. Spiritually. We have a journey, a path, a walk that the Lord has intended for us. Lord help us to know what it is, to find it, to remain pressing forward upon, and to not be deterred and stolen from. In Jesus Name. The Name above every other Name. Amen.


The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.

Isaiah 61: 1-3 KJV