Two events this past week - riding the bus in Ocean City and renewing my bus pass for the coming semester in Richmond - have made me consider what it means to be a neighbor.
While in Ocean City for a couple of days, we would take the city bus from our hotel down to the Boardwalk, which was about a half-hour ride. Our few trips quickly generated numerous memories, however, particularly in regard to how people act when they are introduced to strangers in confined spaces. A couple of times people waiting to get on the bus would sneak onto the bus from the rear entrance rather than going through the front door and either paying for a ticket or showing the driver they had already bought a pass. Both times this resulted in the bus driver stopping the bus, yelling at the people who just got on in the back to get off immediately, and then telling them that it didn't matter if they had passes or not, they needed to get on the bus like everyone else, and the bus wasn't moving until they got off.
We also experienced a couple of occasions when the bus got so full that all seats were taken (with some seats fitting two people), and people were standing together so tightly that no one else could safely fit in the bus. At further stops, the driver would tell the people on the bus to keep scooting back and make room for new passengers. When this happened, the passengers on the bus would yell back to the driver that there was no more room. Later, as a couple of passengers would get off and more space became available, rather than make room for new passengers, several people would hold their ground and refuse to move back. When the bus driver again asked people to move back and was told that there was no more room, this usually resulted in an argument, and the bus again came to a stop until people complied with the driver's instructions.
One night, while riding back to the hotel from the Boardwalk, three young men got on board the bus with big grins. Two of them proceeded to start chanting quietly to themselves, which appeared strange at first. Then the chant kept getting louder and louder, and they started including others in the chant. It went like this:
"Who's on the bus?
Who's on the bus?
Who's...on...the bus?
[Chanters to random passenger]: Hey buddy, what's your name?
[Random passenger]: Jimmy.
Jimmy's on the bus!
Jimmy's on the bus!
Jimmy's...on...the bus!"
As the bus ride progressed and more passengers got on board, the volume of the chant increased as well, and no passenger was spared from being asked their name. Those that gave fake names were ridiculed, and those that tried to ignore the chanting were pestered until they eventually provided some sort of name. By the time the chanting riders reached their destination and exited the bus, there was a sense of relief among the passengers. At the same time, one could not deny that the chanting and strange behavior of these young men brought smiles to most of the passengers' faces, if only because they served as an amusing spectacle.
This week as we are preparing for the upcoming semester, we have renewed our bus passes for the fall, and I look forward to once again riding the city bus on a regular basis. Riding the bus is an opportunity not only to get to school and back, but to also meet the people who live around me, even if it's just visual recognition. Reflecting upon these bus experiences, I find myself asking a few questions:
- How do I live as a neighbor to those around me?
- Do I try to force my way into situations and bend the rules to fit my own desires or convenience?
- Do I refuse to be gracious to others and make sacrifices for others' benefit so that I can preserve my own comfort?
- Am I honest in how I live before others?
- Do I seek to gain the attention and approval of others?
- Do I work to live in peace with others?
- Am I a blessing or a hindrance in the lives of others?
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