Mike Criswell
I’ve never liked riding the bus! When I was a kid, I lived on a rural bus route in Southwest Missouri. Now if you don’t know that part of the world, let me say I’m pretty sure it’s what “flat earthers” have long sought to prove their case. Despite it being hilly in “them thar Ozarks,” my house was at the very edge of all that was civilized. I always had a notion that just back of our rock-infested 80 acres, the “third rock from the sun” dropped off into oblivion. Let me explain! When we moved to SW Missouri in the 1970’s, some in “them parts” didn’t even have indoor plumbing. In fact, they didn’t believe in it! But, as good-compliant city slickers do, we moved in anyway and proudly joined our progressive community by not having an indoor toilet ourselves for a long time. We also enjoyed a green garden hose that ran from a well-house, which supplied cold bath water for us to delight in. But I digress, let me get back to my point.
In those days, our bus driver lived down the road a piece and parked the school bus at his house each night. Therefore, logically, we were the first ones on the bus in the morning and the last ones off in the evening. It was a bouncy, hour-plus trip two times a day that was miserable. Over time, we learned to sleep, do homework, and even read on those outrageous rocky roads. And we did it all without tossing our proverbial cookies. We didn’t walk to school uphill both ways like our parents did, but we bounced both ways. So, what’s the point? Well, somewhere back in those days, a “saying” got to circulating about being “thrown under the bus.” I’m not sure of its origin, but I still hear it a lot these days. I’m not sure who first threw someone under the “proverbial” bus. Neither am I sure who the first victim was. But for sure, the thrower must have been some kind of nasty “bully” who loved violence more than kindness. And the poor “victim?” Well, let’s not even go there! No doubt he was safer under the bus than out there on the curb with the bully.
There is so much I’d like to develop with this little illustration. As you can see, I still have emotional scars from those long hours on the bus. Thanks Mom! But despite my tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, there are some spiritual lessons here. Let me sum up what I learned on the bus! First, endurance! To gain knowledge, you’ve got to endure some hardship. There will be bumps and rocks on the way to the Master Teacher. Second, it takes a rocky road to make you appreciate the blacktop. Life’s not always going to be smooth sailing. Third, you will encounter bullies, and you will (I promise) get thrown under the bus. Don’t worry about it! Stand up for God’s principles. A lot of these bullies will be folks who claim Christ as their savior, all the while trying to destroy you. Fourth, ironically, it’s under the bus where you might be the safest. A bully typically never gets under the bus to continue his violence. He’s a coward when it’s all said and done! But take heart! Jesus was one who came to actually “get thrown under the bus” with you! Yes! With you! When we stand for Him, Jesus goes with us even into the valley of the shadow of death. Getting thrown under the bus is really nothing to fear when it’s all said and done. So again, take heart. Whether you find yourself being jostled in the bouncy bus of life or whether you find bullies throwing you under the bus. Just forgive them and move on. Despite the smoke, dirt, and pipes under the bus, there are still a few good folks who will pull you out on the other side. And even when they fail, Jesus is there! Keep rolling!
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