Mark 16:15 – He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (NIV)

The day was dark, foggy, and rainy, as I drove to the GO station to take the GO train with my friend from here in Barrie to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. I don’t mind driving to Toronto or around Toronto, but we thought it would be a nice part of our day to take the GO train, since it is relatively new to Barrie, having been extended here only a few years ago. As we pulled into the fog-filled parking lot and left the car behind for the day, we made our way to the brightly-lit train.

Heading to the top floor, we found seats and settled for a day’s adventure. As I glanced around the train, I noticed people filling the vacant seats, quietly and without discussion in most cases. At first I thought, Well, it is only 7 a.m. As the train pulled out of the station and on to the next station, and then the next, and eventually into Toronto, the then-filled train had a quiet hush about it. No one had exchanged hellos or goodbyes to the people around them. Most had travelled with earphones in place; some read books; others seemed to sleep the journey away. The journey home was much the same — almost surreal. How many of the people make this journey daily from Barrie to Toronto? How was it that they didn’t seem to know one another? How many sat on the same train in the same location and yet didn’t offer a simple hello or goodbye to one another?

I am now left two days later with remorse and sadness, and questions: Did I show the love of Christ on this journey? Did I miss opportunities to be a witness? Yes, my friend and I spoke both ways, and we did talk openly about God as we chatted, as we most often do when together. Was it enough? That is the question I am left with. Just as the fog filled the air that day, a fog filled the people on the train.

1 John 4:16 – And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (NIV)

How can we ensure that we spread the love of Christ? I know that prayer is one way in which we can all advance His kingdom, and so I know that each time I see a GO train, or any train for that matter, I will be praying for the souls on board. Stepping out of my shell to extend the small gesture of a smile and a polite hello or goodbye is big in the world of the lost.

Prayer: Dear Lord, at this time, we lift up all who do not know You. We know that You want all to come to know You. We pray for all who go to the ends of the earth to speak of Your love for us. Thank You for the reminders that we have people right in our midst who do not have knowledge of You. Help us, Lord, to offer a smile or a simple hello to people we come across on this journey. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Julie Bowles julieanni@rogers.com
Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca