the bus is packed. there are only a few seats left, and i nab the last two-seater bench that is unoccupied. the bike rack on the front is filled soi am forced to keep my bike awkwardly positioned in the 2nd doorway towards the back of the bus. every time a person gets on the bus and works there way towards the back - i get up, lift the front tire of my bike to allow them to pass (it's blocking the center aisle) and then reposition it without hitting the other riders who are within striking distance of my front tire.
all that to say what was most interesting about this ride was an awkwardly dressed middle aged gentleman with an obscure hair cut and what appeared to be an ancient walking stick with a furry handle staring excitedly at everyone who got on the bus, and then the rest of us who were already riding. he would say "hi hi" to every person that passed with a three year olds passion, as if he had just learned to speak and was showing off for his parent's friends. it was strangely beautiful.
for instance, he saw a crossing guard outside the bus and would raise his hand to wave through the window as we passed at 30 mph. he'd shout out a "hey buddy" and then just turn back to the people in the bus as if he gave a casual hello to that crossing guard every day.
as people climbed onto the bus he would stare intently with these begging eyes. eyes that eagerly awaited an opportunity to talk to anyone. not creepy and not scary - but a bit intense none the less. and although he had some clear needs, he was not in any obviously way, "slow." this grown man who looked upon every interaction with childlike pleasure did not appear to have some life crippling condition, or obvious mental disability. he was not someone to take pity on.
i wanted to talk to him. i wanted to know his story. i wanted to fulfill his apparent desire to talk and share life with another person who didn't seem him as a social misfit. it was a joy to share the few min we had left on the ride with him.
i want to know how to pray for him.
i want learn more of how to serve the people i meet - especially those outside my day to day.
those who are touch and go.
one more story before bed...
yesterday/today i rode the bus across from a women who kept trying to sell the man sitting behind her this red box that contained two christmas-themed angel earings. for whatever reason (maybe proximity) she did not ask anyone else. every time she would ask, show would drop the price. she finally was down to offering the earrings for one dollar. the man still said "no thank you."
clearly disappointed she reaches into her pocket and pulls out this stained, wrinkled copy of "our daily bread," which is a sort of jesus-centered devotional filled with daily inspirational readings. she was feverishly reading - flying through page after page of this book as though if she stopped reading she would burst into tears.
the bus continues on for ten more minutes before we arrive at kennedy plaza. we get off the bus and i approach her. i offer her some money for her earrings, she takes it, and we talk for a few min about life, god, and busses - and then...God just seemed show up in a close, physically present way. the kind of feeling that just compels you to pray - and thank him for what it is to be alive and share what we have with each other, and listen to one other, not just waiting for your turn to speak. blessed.
after the conversation with the woman i took my normal walk (often it's a bike ride) through downtown and up the east side. stopped in at the cable car as i usually do, purchased an evening coffee, said hi to a friend and then headed to wickenden. it was a tuesday, so i walked over to the farmers market behind cafe zog and picked up enough veggies, eggs, and cheese for a few omelette's and wraps this week. they had some beautiful tomatoes, fresh cheese, zucchini bread and an excess of sunflowers. from the bus ride, to cable car coffee, to running into random friends, to the farmers market - it all it all reminded me of my deepening love for this city and the creator and lover of it all.
goodnite. visit the market.
for instance, he saw a crossing guard outside the bus and would raise his hand to wave through the window as we passed at 30 mph. he'd shout out a "hey buddy" and then just turn back to the people in the bus as if he gave a casual hello to that crossing guard every day.
as people climbed onto the bus he would stare intently with these begging eyes. eyes that eagerly awaited an opportunity to talk to anyone. not creepy and not scary - but a bit intense none the less. and although he had some clear needs, he was not in any obviously way, "slow." this grown man who looked upon every interaction with childlike pleasure did not appear to have some life crippling condition, or obvious mental disability. he was not someone to take pity on.
i wanted to talk to him. i wanted to know his story. i wanted to fulfill his apparent desire to talk and share life with another person who didn't seem him as a social misfit. it was a joy to share the few min we had left on the ride with him.
i want to know how to pray for him.
i want learn more of how to serve the people i meet - especially those outside my day to day.
those who are touch and go.
one more story before bed...
yesterday/today i rode the bus across from a women who kept trying to sell the man sitting behind her this red box that contained two christmas-themed angel earings. for whatever reason (maybe proximity) she did not ask anyone else. every time she would ask, show would drop the price. she finally was down to offering the earrings for one dollar. the man still said "no thank you."
clearly disappointed she reaches into her pocket and pulls out this stained, wrinkled copy of "our daily bread," which is a sort of jesus-centered devotional filled with daily inspirational readings. she was feverishly reading - flying through page after page of this book as though if she stopped reading she would burst into tears.
the bus continues on for ten more minutes before we arrive at kennedy plaza. we get off the bus and i approach her. i offer her some money for her earrings, she takes it, and we talk for a few min about life, god, and busses - and then...God just seemed show up in a close, physically present way. the kind of feeling that just compels you to pray - and thank him for what it is to be alive and share what we have with each other, and listen to one other, not just waiting for your turn to speak. blessed.
after the conversation with the woman i took my normal walk (often it's a bike ride) through downtown and up the east side. stopped in at the cable car as i usually do, purchased an evening coffee, said hi to a friend and then headed to wickenden. it was a tuesday, so i walked over to the farmers market behind cafe zog and picked up enough veggies, eggs, and cheese for a few omelette's and wraps this week. they had some beautiful tomatoes, fresh cheese, zucchini bread and an excess of sunflowers. from the bus ride, to cable car coffee, to running into random friends, to the farmers market - it all it all reminded me of my deepening love for this city and the creator and lover of it all.
goodnite. visit the market.
5 comments:
i LOVE your stories. you live a beautiful life andrew mook.
love it
I genuinely love these. It brings some hope and light. Thanks.
YES
i'm sad that there were only a few bus stories. i'm not saying i hope your car dies so you can write more. but... maybe you can make up some fake stories...
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