Rippin’, Runnin’, and Regrettin’
Share
A testimony by Bev Conda
Photo Credit: weston m via unsplash.com
One morning, I was on my way to work at Miami International Airport via city transit. It was a gloomy, rainy morning as I was going about my way. When it came time to make a transfer, I usually found myself on a busy 36th and LeJeune. This day was no different. But on this day, time was tight. I saw the bus I needed to catch heading toward the bus stop across the street and plenty of other cars were rushing up and down the street, too. So, I got across to the median and waited there for clearance to finish crossing and made a mad dash for it! I stepped out and…
Boof! I had hit the ground, ripped the knee of my pant leg, and sprained my ankle for good measure. I got my bus, though! And with no little thanks to YAH!!! Can you imagine? The things we take for granted. I had no problem believing I was going to make it across the street safely, and I did—but barely! I could have gotten run over by that bus and any of the many cars on the road that day, but halleluYah, I’m alive to tell you about it. That, and also to tell you, BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR LIFE!
Once I got on the bus, the driver immediately said, “Next time, don’t run!” I let him know that in times past, drivers tended to drive off, not waiting for people trying to catch the bus, even when you’re close enough to tap on the side of the bus. "...That’s why I ran." He then realized it was his lesson to learn and said from that day on he would wait a few minutes for transferring passengers because what had just happened was extremely dangerous—and he knew it! He was sorry and, thankfully—if he lived up to his promise—it changed the way he did his job. Hopefully, other drivers noted the change in him and followed suit.
So, what lessons can you grab from this story of a near miss?
1. Take your time. Being late is better than losing your life trying to rush along or trying to be “on time.” The fact of the matter is Yah’s timing is the right timing. And sometimes what might be perceived as lateness is the Father granting delay to avoid further delay or even tragedy. He’ll make up for the lost time. Yes, I was trying to get to work on time, but it would have been better not to rush. Yah is merciful.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." Ecclesiastes 3:11
2. Keep others in mind. Oftentimes, we go about our days trying to do and be our best, not taking into full consideration how the way we go about things impacts others. The bus driver that day, and likely other drivers on any given day, was probably trying to do a good job keeping to his schedule—but at the possible cost of a life lost. Now, if you hit someone along the way, is anyone going to notice that you kept to your schedule? Not likely. When we take others into consideration, desiring their good, that’s when we are actually at our best. Just like Yahawasha (Jesus’ name in Paleo-Hebrew) did…
"...complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus..." Philippians 2:2-5