I am grateful, Father, for the comfort of our home, food and drink, and my beautiful and talented companion, who has joined me on my journey. I am truly blessed!

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (<<click here to read the passage)

This post will cover quite a bit of ground right from the get-go. As I read through the passage, my mind went to the importance of being trained by someone with experience for whatever we’re getting ourselves into—a new job, school, taking up a sport, or a musical instrument. Good, solid training is a great asset, at the very least, and a must in many circumstances.

As I thought along those lines, it brought to mind the training I received to drive school bus. I figured I had written about those experiences at some point, so I did some digging and confirmed that I had. Reading through those stirred many more thoughts. Here’s a synopsis.

*****

In the spring of 2018, a seed was planted. A dear friend and former co-worker stopped by the Kohl’s store where I worked and shared that several new routes were going to open up for bus drivers in the school system she worked for.

I wondered, could I do this? Would it be something I would enjoy? After much thought, discussion, and prayer, I pursued the opportunity; believe me, it was not a speedy process.

I poured a lot of time into meeting requirements, one-on-one training, in-service training, and pre-service training. The plan was to complete it in a relatively short period, but unfortunately, in the process of it all, I officiated six funerals in four months, had two root canals, had carpal tunnel surgery, and was officially diagnosed as a diabetic.

Three months in I began to really struggle with whether or not becoming a bus driver was the best course of action for me. In the middle of October, I experienced an incredibly difficult day. I was questioning; I was worn out. I kept thinking, “Lord, I can’t do this. I’m heading into the craziest time of year for both Kohl’s and my churches – it’s just too much!” I turned on some music through my Spotify app, which happened to be a Southern Gospel mix.

Well…one song really touched me. I had never heard the song before, but The Booth Brothers sang a song entitled He Saw It All. The lyrics are a little long, but it makes so much more sense if you read the beginning of the song and then read the second full verse (I bolded it), which is the one that touched me so. I felt God was telling me I wasn’t going it alone; He was with me all the way.

I was working in town one afternoon
Attending some business affairs
I heard a commotion a couple streets over
And wondered. “What’s happenin’ there”

A young man was running from in that direction
And stopped just to catch his breath
I asked him to please tell me what was the hurry
He smiled up at me and he said.

I was trying to catch the crippled man
Did he run past this way?
He was rushing home to tell everyone
What Jesus did today
And the mute man was telling myself and the deaf girl
He’s leaving to answer God’s call
It’s hard to believe but if you don’t trust me
Ask the blind man, he saw it all
Go ask the blind man, he saw it all

So my friend if the troubles and burdens you carry
Are heavy and dragging you down
You’ve tried everything you can possibly think of
There’s no relief to be found
That very same Jesus that altered the future
Of a blind man, the deaf, and the lame
Is still reaching out in your hour of trouble
One touch and you’re never the same.

You’ll be trying to catch the crippled man…

So, long story short, with the prayer support of innumerable people, God’s help, and the tenacity only He could give – even amid the season’s first big winter weather advisory with local schools canceled and my training school on a 2-hour delay – I passed my test! And the rest is history!

But going back to today’s passage, it was a grueling experience but the “suffering” has afforded me many opportunities since to bring comfort. Others who share my sufferings can also share in my comfort. (verse 7)

Apr 10th, 2024, Wed, 12:55 pm

(Here’s a very nice video recording of the song if you’d like to hear the song.)