Don't Miss the Bus

As I sat down on the church pew and bent over to place my purse on the floor, the first thing I happened to see was her black, orthopedic, two strip Velcro shoes.  When I sat up, our eyes met and we smiled at each other.  She was a frail little lady with gray hair and big round Harry Potter style eye glasses.  We shook hands during the morning greeting and I noticed that for the entire duration of the service, she wore her coat buttoned up and belted tightly.

Today was different.  This little lady and the other gray haired ladies surrounding me on the pews normally attend the early traditional church service, but today was Harvest Sunday and there was only one worship service, which was held during the later contemporary worship hour.  I sat in my regular spot at the contemporary worship time and perhaps they were in theirs too, just at a different time on this particular Sunday. Nonetheless, there we were - worshipping together. 

 

At the close of the sermon, the little lady beside me gathered her things, held her purse tightly and kept looking back at the double doors to the entrance of the sanctuary behind us. I could sense her anxiousness all during the altar call, the offering and service closing. So much so that at any moment I expected her to walk by me to make an early exit.  But she didn’t.  As we were leaving, she looked at me and said, “I just want to make sure I get home today.”  “Do you live close by?” I asked.  “Oh, yes, honey I’m just trying to get outside to the bus.  It will take me home.”

 

It was then that I realized she had been anxiously awaiting the bus from the very moment we arrived.  The buttoned up coat belted tightly and all the anxiety she was feeling stemmed from her not wanting to miss the bus to get home.

 

I pulled out of the church parking lot thinking I’ll be her in 30 plus years and might need the bus to get home too.  The truth is that scares me a little. And in that moment I understood her fear. 

 

But I’m thankful that only God knows the future and that He will get us all to the bus or to whatever means necessary for us to get home.  What’s important is that we don’t miss the experience before it’s time for the ride home.