For several days, I was going through a lot of deep disheartening issues. I was filled with rage, depression, guilt, bitterness. Basically, the whole ball of mucus that gets stuck in your nose. I wanted to get it all out. I needed someone to turn to, but was clueless, confused and had nowhere to turn.
Suddenly, a golden type flyer stabbed me on top of my head as it then fell to the ground.
Picking it up, it said, “Your problems solved, ride my bus. Boarding in five minutes“.
I looked to my left and out of the corner of my eye; I saw a bus. It looked like a school bus, but not the dull yellow color. But a gold, beaming color. I was drawn to it. I decided to climb aboard. I was greeted by the bus driver. He looked like an ordinary person. He said, “We’ve been expecting you. Please take a seat”. I was the only one on the bus except for this homeless looking guy sleeping in the back. I didn’t pay him much attention. I was desperate for answers to my life problems.
As the bus pulled out, the driver said, “I’m about to take you on a long journey. Get comfortable. I will be picking up people on the way. They will sit by you and you are to tell them your problems. Then they will give you advice and take their seats”. I thought this was cool. I thought perhaps this was the answer to my problems.
First on came an elderly type woman in her 80’s. She sat by me and had a nice smile on her face. I started telling her my problems. I was about to get into it and she said, “Oh my, my” as she patted me on the shoulder. For the next few hours, she told long outdrawn stories of her growing up and her going through her hard times. I was getting bored near the end. All she seemed to want to do was talk about her. She didn’t help me at all.
The next person that hopped on the bus was a man that seemed very happy. I started telling him my worries, seeking his advice. All he handed me was a bottle of alcohol. He said, “This will make you forget about your problems”. Over the next few hours, I drank many bottles of booze. I was drunk and happy. I had forgotten about my problems. However, several hours later, I awoke with a headache. I was still depressed about my problems.
The next person sat by me as he introduced himself as the pastor of the First Judgementalist Church . I thought, “Cool, a church pastor”. He would understand and give me his support. I spent almost ten minutes telling him what I was going through. All he did was give me a condemn look. He slammed his hand on my back hurting me like hell. He then began to yell at me and said, “You know, this is your fault that you are going through all these problems. God is punishing you because of your sin”. I asked, “Dude, what sin”? He looked at me and said, “If you don’t know then I can’t help you” as he got up to take another seat.
The next person was from another church. He was very friendly and I was relieved. He let me talk a little longer as I spent 15 minutes telling him my issues. He patted me on the shoulder as he smiled. He said, “Well, you just need to get involved in our church. There are lots of Bible studies, groups, volunteer projects, and sports teams you can get on. You’ll be so busy in church that you want have time to think about anything else”. As he got up, he gave me an envelope and said, “Oh, and we would appreciate your tithes as we have a lot of programs we have to take care of”.
I was getting nowhere. The next person up had a lot of promise. He was really listening very carefully. He was nodding his head in agreement as if he understood what I was going through. I was getting involved in telling him what I had been going through. 45 minutes later, he said, “That’s good, that will be $50 please” as he handed me his bill. He was a psychologist. I said, “I ain’t paying you….all you did was listen”. He suddenly got mad and was threatening to throw me off the bus. I had no idea where I was at as I reluctantly agreed to pay him. But for what?
I was getting very frustrated. A few more well meaning people came through. Some condemned me accusing me it was my own fault. Others offered pet answers that didn’t make any sense. No one could help me. I didn’t know what to do.
Suddenly, the bus driver stopped the bus. I was puzzled and confused. He stood up and said, “The owner of the bus has an announcement he would like to make”. I heard a crumble in the back. It was the homeless looking guy rising to his feet. It looked like for awhile he was going to take awhile to get out what he was saying. “Get off my bus!” as he suddenly yelled out. He had such an authority that I never would have pictured from a lowly man like himself. Everyone that had talked to me suddenly ran out like a herd of sheep.
I was the last one making my exit. As I was leaving, the bus driver closed the doors. He looked at me and said, “No, you stay. The owner of the bus wants to talk to you.” I said, “What for, he wants me off”. The driver said, “No, he wants you on his bus”.
The guy was sitting down as he said, “Come sit, let’s talk”. He then said, “Michael, drive”. The bus started to move as I sat down by the guy.
I didn’t know what to make. I looked into the guy’s eyes and there was something about 
him I couldn’t comprehend. He said, “Lay my burdens before me”. I said, “No, I have tried everything.” He said, “Lay your burdens before me”. I said, “But all I get is people talking about themselves, being judged, being ignored, being charged, given drugs, and being made fun of”. He said, “No, no, not from me. I am a call away anytime you need me. But you must pour out to me”.
Before I knew it, I was talking to this man. All I received was love, respect, and understanding. I told him everything I was going through. All I could do was cry. He gave me a hug and rubbed my head messing up my hair. But I didn’t care. I was pouring out tears and words that I needed to hear. All the guy said was, “I know, I know. And if you trust in me, you will be free.”
As I was crying, I said, “Yes, yes, I feel free. Thank you. Thank you.”
The bus stopped without warning. The guy said, “You are back home” and I noticed the bus was now in front of my house. “I will come pick you up at a later date in the future to take you to your permanent home. But until then, I am only a call away and I will be at your side” as the man said.
I stepped off the bus as I saw it drove off. I then realized I had allowed Jesus to come into my inner being and to give him my all. I knew he would be by my side and that I would one day be picked up to be driven to my permanent destination. Are you ready for the bus ride?
Burt Empson
Leave a Reply