Notes about the Driver

 Notes about the Driver

As stated earlier, the Driver is God’s special messenger.  Of the parts of the Holy Trinity, we seem to lack understanding of the Holy Spirit and what his work is all about…..or let’s say….at least we know him “on the surface” but are not sure he really checks on each of us.  Thus, God sent him to spend this important time on the journey.  Hopefully, when we return home, our doubts will have changed.
  
The Driver was given an itinerary and some specific goals for the trip: 
 

• ·         Watch and listen to all of the passengers.

• ·         Design the activities on the trip to build a deeper appreciation for My Creation---people, places, prayer---we    call those the three Ps.

• ·         Gather the group together for meals for it is in breaking bread together that we can become more intimate in our understanding of others. 

• ·         Every evening have a prayer time where people share what they enjoyed about the day and ask questions they might have.  Be sure to connect the value of building community as My Son did in His human journey.  It helps the group to know they are valued by others.

• ·         Always remind them that they were created with a specific purpose in their earthly life as they prepare for their eternal life.  It’s not just about now.

• ·         Hand-out Divine message cards each morning.  You know who the passengers are and what messages they need to receive each day on the journey.  It might be as simple as “Do not be afraid.”

• ·         Be sure the passengers know that you welcome time with them.  They just need to invite you.

Meet Passenger #2- A Family Member

Passenger #2 – A Family Member

Look around carefully.  Are you sure no one from your family is in the group?  Well, we do know two things—everyone on board is a family member, if not in your family, and this passenger might certainly represent someone in your own family once you hear the story.

Passenger #2 struggles with “fitting in” at family gatherings.  She never quite was accepted by her in-laws.  Even though there are big Sunday dinners and she does her part in preparing the meal, the conversations seem to flow in other directions.  She is a good mother but is just perceived as odd---not one of good stock.  In her bio she commented about being lonely and having to swallow a lot of comments.  Her biggest fear is the effect this strained relationship can have on her own daughter.  She would fix the problem within herself if she knew what it was. 

 

Like Passenger #2, some people have unique personality traits, appearances, and backgrounds that separate rather than unite them to others.  Often times, these obstacles are a part of the fabric of their creation and not something they physically and intentionally created themselves.  Yes, we are who we are!  The question is---who has the problem?  I dare suggest that it is in the hearts of those who reject her and those who” pretend” to accept her.  We are all guilty of that sin from time to time.  It troubles our passenger but it also troubles God that we question His creation and actually sink to the level of rejecting His work.

Our friend loves God and loves people.  She prays for Him to reveal what she can do to earn this acceptance that she so dearly desires.  She waits patiently, but has not heard His response yet.  In the meantime, she carries a hole in her heart and looks for ways to ensure that her daughter is not affected by the relationship.

Guiding Questions for comments: (Feel free to share anything of comfort each day)

1.       What message did Passenger #2 reveal to you about yourself and others? 

2.       She says she has not heard answers from God.  What is He doing to answer her prayers?

Meet Passenger #1 - You!

Passenger #1- A Christian
 
This will be you. Yes, you are on the trip! You were selected by God and as we say, “you made the short list.” Even though you are busy and should not be away this long, it is a gift from God to expand your vision. As a Christian believer, God wants you to meet these guests on the trip. They are from many places and you will have to figure out who they are. You see, each passenger had to write a brief story of their life. It was their ticket onto the bus. Their job is to keep the other passengers wondering who they are.
Each day there will be some details that might help you to visualize the matching person among the travelers. Maybe it will be their physical appearance or perhaps an attitude or a behavior, something they say or don’t say. But I do know this, what God hopes will happen is that you will be transformed on this trip just by your exposure to their stories. 

So sit back and relax. Things will be taken care of while you are away. Amazingly, life will go on and the world will not stop because of your travels. When you feel confused or frustrated, remember the driver is there to give you direction. He works 24/7 so just ask for understanding on an as-needed basis. One day you might even have to ask for forgiveness, but that will be between you and Him!

You might figure out that the other passengers will be watching you and will be trying to decide which passenger you are on the list. Everybody has “the list” and all will have their eyes and ears on you as well. You are simply Passenger #1- A Christian. 

By the way, this trip is free of charge. The price has already been paid on a cross long ago. It is greater than winning the lottery and there is no expiration date. When you return, your family might not recognize you, so do not be afraid----you might hear that phrase several times on the trip. Great to have you aboard and Bon Voyage!

Hint: Tomorrow you will meet a family member---it might be your own family member and you will know because you will be surprised to recognize Passenger #2 on the trip. However, it might be the family member of another passenger---we’ll see how that unfolds.

Guiding Questions for comments: (Feel free to share anything of comfort each day)

1. When you wrote your brief bio, what did you feel was most important to include?

2. When the passengers wrote their bios, they all struggled with something they didn’t want to share. Take time now to reflect quietly on that piece and pray for strength to know how to confront that obstacle that is holding you back. Ask God to show you how to forgive yourself---we know HE has already forgiven you but you are not as forgiving of yourself.

Forty Passengers on the Journey

40 Passengers on the Journey

Today I will give you an overview which will hopefully be an invitation to follow and comment.  Each day you will meet one of the passengers on the bus tour and trust me, there will be quite a variety. The message will open some thoughts for you to see people differently and to ask God for blessings for that person and quite possibly healing for yourself. I am pretty sure that a few personal splinters will surface on the trip!

As we meet our passengers, you will learn about their inner thoughts- past, present, and future.  You won’t be sure which passenger they are because they have no names.  However, you can learn of their stories and even transfer their title to someone you have met before. 

The main task will be to quietly reflect on the person and the story as you examine your own thoughts and feelings about this passenger.

By the way, the bus driver is a Messenger from God.  His Name is Holy Spirit.  You might already know him.  It is important that he is aboard so your vision can be clear.

As educators, we must learn to balance the successes and the challenges that we face as we attempt to create meaningful learning experiences for our students.  Education was never categorized as an easy career and it is proving to be one of the most challenging today.  Too much negativity is impacting our effectiveness to be creative teachers and administrators.  It is my belief that to overcome these challenges, we must focus on solutions rather than problems.  So what are some solutions that can reduce the negativity and encourage our educators to love their work?

INSPIRING YOUNG GLOBAL PEACEMAKERS  IN THE CLASSROOM

I am devoting my work in this blog to a topic that is very dear to my heart – inspiring young global peacemakers.  In the past forty years, I have experienced several generations of young people and educators who represent many social and educational variances.  My hope has always been that perhaps I have made a slight impact on someone’s life to be the best that they can be and do it in a manner that upholds human dignity.

I invite readers to share thoughts and personal experiences that support this effort to compile meaningful information that can transform lives.

The venue that I feel is most available for youth to be exposed to peacemaking is the global classroom.  In this peak of social media and international strife, it seems an opportune time to inspire educators to create a learning environment that upholds human dignity and explores what inspires people to be transformed.

There will be topics and themes that need your insight.

God Is at Work

Our God is always at work. His plan for each of us is unfolding as He places the right people into our lives, those who will touch us, those who will enable us to have the true blessings He yearns for each of us to receive. He is a God of completion.