Who would you take?

 

 

Imagine a bus.  Not the necessarily the bus above, just your typical, everyday bus.  Imagine you owned this bus and could take anyone you wanted on this bus.  Who would you pick to ride on your bus?

  

I give you this image because of our recent guest priest, Fr. Mike.  Fr. Mike is a missionary priest for Food for the Poor.  I know it is a little early for a side note, but when you hear missionary priest, it is typical for them to ask for money for their mission, not Fr. Mike.  Fr. Mike came to thank us for donating to Food for the Poor, last year, and of course to ask again, but not via second collection.

 

Fr. Mike's group is responsible for those living in poverty on some tropical island.  While he was visiting, Fr. Mike's guide told all the priest from this mission to get on the bus, for they were going to the dump.  Yes, the place where household trash is discarded.  Fr. Mike talked about driving into this dump and finding a colony of about 500 people.  This colony survives on the trash that is thrown in the dump.   They might get food, build shelter, get clothing, etc.  Imagine someone, in our country, going to the dump to get the basic survival needs.  I believe this is for another blog.

 

Anyway, Fr. Mike said as the bus entered the dump, a group of people will follow the bus, running along side of it, in hopes to get the best of whatever is about to be dumped.  His visit was no different, with the exception of Juan.  Juan, a child, was the first one seen by those on the bus.  Fr. Mike told the driver to stop the bus and let Juan on the bus.  Juan was so shocked, that there was a long pause before getting on the bus.  All the while, the bus was filling with flies and a stench that was about unbearable.

 

After a long visit to the dump, it was time for all to get back on the bus.  Fr. Mike started to say good-bye to Juan, but not without asking questions.  Fr. Mike asked Juan the best part of his day, and of course Juan said, riding the bus.  Juan felt like a normal person, one that comes into the dump and not a person that lives in the dump.  By this time, my eyes were starting to fill with tears.

 

We live in a world of possessions.  Many people are judged by the things they have, not who they are.  I imagine myself on that bus.  Would I have the courage to ask the driver to stop and pick up Juan?  How many times have I driven by someone stranded on the side of the road?  How many times have I lived in fear that if I stop, the consequences could have unpleasant results? 

 

Thanks to Fr. Mike for reminding us we all deserve to be on the bus.  Thank you for reminding us that whatsoever you do...  Thanks for the reminder, that when we work for God, we honor Him and are protected by Him. 

 

So again I ask, who is on your bus?