It was a shuttle bus kinda morning from my parking deck at work to the clinic about two and a half blocks away. I usually enjoy walking  but have refrained from that mode of transportation lately while recovering from my ankle surgery. One reason riding the bus does not appeal to me is that no matter what kind of ice breaker I may try to toss out there to the  morning “zombies” sitting around me, no one grabs hold and I am sometimes put in an awkward position of complete silence attached to the stares from blank faces. I figure they have either not had their coffee fix yet or they are trying to wake up, or both.

Yet this Monday morning as a few of us  stood in the cold all wrapped up in scarves, winter coats and gloves waiting for that white eight wheeled passenger carrier to chug around the corner, one perky young black man greeted us all with a chipper “good morning.” I think I was the only one to respond to him as we piled on the warm bus. He sat right across from me and I noticed him holding a book that looked very familiar to me. So I mustered up a little courage and popped out a question figuring he would answer since he had already cracked the ice.

“What’s that book you’ve got in your hand?”,I asked knowing the answer already but curious how he would respond to my question. ” This book? Why it’s the Word!! Do you know this book?”

“Sure do, it’s my favorite book. Read it just about every day!”

He gave me a big smile and looked around the bus at the other folks sitting in their own little worlds and he boldly asked “is everyone born again?” Well, that certainly got people’s attention as they all glanced around to see who might step out of their comfort zone and speak up. One woman danced around the question with a comeback response from something  she had heard on the radio about religion as the others all eyeballed each other trying to figure out who might be “born again” in the group.

The bus came to this young man’s stop and as he bounced down a step he turned and told us all to have blessed day in the Lord. I couldn’t help but think at that moment how big the smile must have been on the face of the One that sacrificed His life so we could be born again. I’m sure Jesus might have been thinking “well done, my faithful servant!” as He was pleased at the young servant’s boldness. Jesus tells us in John 3:3 ” I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Isn’t that what we are suppose to do when we become followers of Christ? Step out in bold faith sharing God’s Word like this young man did without any fear or hesitation? Matthew 5:16 in the Word says if we are Christ followers we should let our light shine before men. Well, I’d say that was one bright morning on that shuttle bus carrying unsuspecting folks to face their Monday responsibilities. I wonder what impact it made on each of them throughout the day, wonder what seed might have been planted that God had set up ahead of time and this young bold follower was obedient to the nudging of the Holy Spirit to follow through with his conviction. Only God knows.

I just know that I’m glad that young man was on that bus this cold Monday morning,  setting an example for me to be more of a light to this dark world.

Sure gave me a joyous Monday!