I'm Just a Bus Driver...

Periodically I will feel guilty for my lack of involvement at Compass and "only" being on the prayer team and "only" stuffing the bulletins and getting them ready for the ushers to hand out to folks. And on days like today, I feel utterly ... uhm, what's the word... insignificant (?) in comparison to Mike, Bobby, Pete, Dale, Bob, Ty, Brad. They are so gifted in what they do and sometimes I am envious of them -- yes, I said envious. Hmm, I confessed it finally... wow, that felt good. Oh, I do have to make it clear none of them have ever made me feel this way, this is COMPLETELY self inflicted.

But something hit me today in much different way than ever before. Maybe it was when I was talking about it during dinner to a friend that it solidified this thought in my mind after thinking about it while I was stuffing the bulletins today. My first thought about this was a song from Caedmon's Call called "Bus Driver". The most annoying song musically that they have ever done, but the message is intense.... the song is a paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul talks about the body of Christ. I had to bold a line in the song because it haunts me every time I think I am less of a part of the body at Compass just because I don't preach, counsel or lead worship. And this line is exactly what was haunting me today.

Here are the lyrics:

I am a bus driver and it's four in the morning * And I'm pressing out my clothes beside my bed. Fourteen years been on the job and with many miles behind * Still I'm up at three thirty to make sure I'm there on time * My car gets me along just fine to and from the station * But my castle is this Houston Metro Bus * My first stop is Ashbury * And the sign's been gone for years but all the same the people wait cause they know that I'll be there * What would you say if I told you that I won't be by today? * Would you say that I'm just a bus driver and what do I know * I'm just a bus driver and what do I know, just a bus driver and what do I know? * Well, I'm always there by five fifteen and lately I've been early 'cause Judith likes to be in early to the bank * And she gives me conversation and a token good for riding. And she's happy all alone And then there's Charles in retail sales; and I hope they pay him well for the work that young man does * Cause I've never seen the inside of a custom refrigerator but I know he's the first and last one there * I wonder what they do all day, and their respective works. * Suppose they give money and take money away. * Still, I'm just orbiting this town with the post office my sun. And I'm circling again * And I wonder how this world would be if I was never here to drive this bus around from Ashbury to Main. * Suppose this town would be the same but with one bus' less exhaust. * But that bank and retail stores, they just wouldn't be the same. * But what can I see from the limited confines of my bus driving seat * Only me

The way I see the song and the way 1 Corinthians is... I cannot ignore the fact that EVERY PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST HAS A PURPOSE CLEARLY ORDAINED BY GOD. Just because I am not in the spotlight doesn't make me less ! I know there are people that I influence at Compass, regardless if I want to accept it or not. And I know there are people that look up to me at Compass (well, not physically look up to me -- ha ha!) and I know there are people that I encourage at Compass. And especially just by doing the bulletins. If I wasn't stuffing the bulletins, who would? Diana, Robert (ok, definitely not Robert. ha ha ha!), Ruth (Pastor Mike's admin assistant), the ushers or even Pastor Mike? I don't think so. They have more important things to do than the bulletins. So, here I go every weekend stuffing about 1,000 bulletins. I know they appreciate it, because not one weekend goes by when someone on staff doesn't thank me. Today, it happened to be Bobby Blakey. On Good Friday it was Christa Blakey and Ruth. And every week Robert. But, he's just thanking me so he doesn't have to do it. ha ha ha ha

I may just be a Bus Driver at Compass, but I'm no less of a part of the body at Compass because I'm behind the scenes in how I serve the body.