Galatians 5:19, 22-23 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear. . . But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Last Friday, I had a lovely experience on the bus to the airport. The bus driver greeted each person with a cheery “Good morning.” Some people were obviously regulars on her bus, because she knew them, and asked how they were and briefly how specific things in their lives were going. She gave each person a smile and wished them a good day when they left the bus. She thanked a young woman who helped an older one to her seat.
I noticed that several people on the bus talked to each other. Passengers smiled at each other and helped each other. The emotional tone on the bus was pleasant. I wish I knew the bus driver’s name, so I could call in or write to the Pittsburgh Port Authority to express my appreciation.
By contrast, when I came home on Monday, my bus driver didn’t say a word to anyone, and I never saw him smile. He looked straight ahead unless he needed to check something, like whether I had paid the right number of bills and coins. He pulled away while I was still paying. I lost my balance and my suitcases rolled down the aisle, almost banging into another passenger’s knees. Had he given me just five or ten more seconds, I could have found a seat without that small commotion.
This man was a good driver and safely delivered each of us where we needed to go. I found it interesting, though, that the people on the bus were silent. They seemed to follow the bus driver’s lead, and no one spoke to anyone else. The atmosphere on the bus was completely different from what I had experienced three days before.
What a great reminder of the value of a little bit of kindness!
Debra Kornfield 