32 Comments

Oh how I loved your imaginative depiction of Christ would He have appear among us today.

Whimsical descriptions that a longtime bus rider frequently saw: “Mormon twins in cheap

black suits” and “the loud guy in the smelly coat”

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❤️❤️❤️

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What a brilliant poem. The scene is so precisely crafted. I really like this poem very much, especially the humanity in it. For everybody.

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Thank you, Arjan!

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Sandals that he could have worn last time, I guess... 💛 Love this contemporary advent story.

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You found one of my favorite lines! Thanks for reading, Elizabeth.

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Really wonderful with all its layers of seeing and meaning!

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Thank you, Amy! ❤️

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Oh I love this! The year I went back to school, I was studying for an exam, as I sat waiting for the bus to fill up and head down to the university. The driver must’ve noticed that I looked a little stressed and casually asked me, “Can I speak a Word into your life?” Sure! I said. And he gave me the sweetest early morning peptalk ever. Those bus drivers are saints.

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Bless the saints who show up to speak a Word into our lives!

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Lovely insights, lovely share. Hard in a secular world bent on believing very little. 🙏🏼

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One of the things I love best about God-With-Us: keeps showing up and being-with, whether I/we are inclined to believe much or not.

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I love the energy and the bustle in the descriptions of your fellow commuters. What an interesting poem - and it feels timeless despite the fact it is 25 years old

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Thank you, David! Grateful to have you reading and commenting.

There's always energy on a city bus -- sometimes muted, sometimes ... less so. A great exercise in keeping it real.

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I too cannot imagine that he'd go for glory after he lived among us the first time. This also brings to mind the verse (in Hebrews) about being kind to strangers because you never know when you will be in the presence of angels. Thanks for these words and reminder.

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I love that verse! Thank you for bringing it here, Caro, and thank you for reading.

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Nice. The spirit manifest.

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Indeed! Thanks for reading and commenting, sir.

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My very favorite poem! Thank you for featuring it.

Auntie B

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I know how you love it! Thanks for being here, Barb.

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The moment I read "crosstown" bus, I knew. That was fun and a little thrilling for those of us who imagine what he would be like today and that is exactly how I see him, "doing the lord's work."

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The most shining example of "act locally, change the world." ❤️

Thanks for reading, Wes!

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Was that a sort of play on words, “cross” town bus?

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Not intentional! This is a case where the reader is more observant than the writer....

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Well, we all have our crosses to bear. Ha!

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A bus rider of 70+ years, I appreciate you and seeing who we are. Very nice indeed!

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Bus riders are my people! Thanks so much for reading, Sandy.

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I sometimes refer to my batch as the local color. 🤗 Best of the holidays to you!

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Beautiful words. I too am an inveterate people watcher.

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Thanks so much for reading, Linda Ruth -- and for watching!

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You are a marvel.

I love your voice and poetic POV.

Do you know that song by Joan Osborne “What if God Was One of Us?” (on YouTube).

Your poem reminded me of it: One of my favorite songs (which I had forgotten about 🤓)

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I remember when that song was on the radio regularly! I never absorbed more of it than the refrain; will go back to YouTube and listen to the verses as well.

Thanks for reading, Shari.

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