Crowded Trains

Thoughts Along the Way©

Elaine Mehn

for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
as you did that day at Massah in the desert, Psalm 95:7-8

Japan is known for its crowded commuter trains. I experience this occasionally, but every time seems worse than the memory of the time before. Since I don’t commute into work, I don’t ride very often during the early morning rush hour. The other day I wondered if my arm would be broken before I got off. (For a horrifying video, not taken by us, go to our website at www.GospelRest.com – Just scroll down)

After this experience I talked to a Japanese friend who rides those same trains everyday. I asked how he can deal with the extremely crowded conditions. His answer was that he has done it for so many years that he doesn’t even think about it. He has closed his mind and completely blocks it out.

I began to think of my heart and wondered how many things have I closed my mind and heart to?

• How have I stopped loving that person who irritates me and I don’t even notice anymore?
• When did I stop being passionate for the salvation of my neighbors?
• What “little sins” have I come to accept as normal or unimportant?
• Where did my love for Jesus go and I didn’t even notice it was gone?
• Why do I think the world revolves around me, my desires, my needs, hopes, dreams, and not around Jesus?

God began to show me some of the things that were crowding around me, pushing and shoving me into a smaller and tighter space. He also began to show me how I didn’t even notice. Fortunately, God didn’t stop there. He also showed me:

• How much He loves me and how He can love others through me.
• When Jesus died, His blood covered my sins so I can face them. It also covered the sins of all who will believe including my neighbors.
• What I have accepted as normal does not have to stay but God’s perfect plan can replace it if I am willing to come to Him in repentance and faith.
• Where my love has gone is not as important as where I can go to receive God’s love. His love is unrestrained and fresh every day.
• Why my heart no longer needs to be squished and squeezed by my self-centeredness but instead can expand and be renewed in Christ Jesus, my Lord.

I still have to occasionally ride the morning rush hour trains but I do not have to live with a heart that has squeezed Jesus out.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the many times that I have let life, self-centeredness and unbelief squeeze Jesus out of my heart. Let me once again come in repentance and faith to be filled with Your love and mercy. Let me breath the fresh spacious air of faith and then let me share that same grace giving life with those around me whether they are squished next to me on a train, live in my house, or are my neighbors.