In God's Country

The homeless man on the bus was sitting in the seat in front of me.


He reeked of alcohol, tobacco, and soiled clothing. He was speaking out loud, perhaps to the bus driver, perhaps to no one in particular, or perhaps to the very specific people living in his head.


Preoccupied with my own thoughts, I did my best to not listen. Yes, this was out of character for me.


In my mind, I was engaged in a heated discourse with God. I did not wish to participate in my Present. In my anger and resentment, I chose to consciously ignore the homeless drunk and his psychotic ramblings.  Dear reader, just now, did you notice how cleverly and cruelly I reduced this man; dehumanizing him with a sharp-tongued phrase? Have patience, dear friend, my comeuppance was mere moments away. 


The homeless man, so I had named him, said, " It is so nice to be up here in God's country, to see how the top ten percent live, before having to return to live with the other ninety-percent. That's why I ride the bus up here on the week-end, just to get away from where I live, and see something truly beautiful."


Now, these words, I heard most clearly! I sat upright in my seat. I had just received a spiritual lesson. In that one moment, the homeless man was no longer merely the homeless man. His words were no longer alcohol fueled expletives. He had become a Voice in the desert, delivering a well-aimed, aptly timed message.


"God's Country." The words echoed in my head, and rang true. This human being seated in front of me possessed Vision, where as I, due to my childish and selfish resistance to God's Will and Wisdom, had allowed myself to become blind.


I had become blind to the beauty of my present circumstances. Oh, the shame I felt!


How often do those of us who claim to be on a spiritual path willingly choose to lose our way?


We justify our resentment with lofty and ambitious worldly logic, determined, despite the obvious obstacles, to turn away from God. Self-Will is intoxicating; the ultimate street drug.


Then, in an instant, a stranger speaks in a Voice not his own, in words we are meant to Hear.


Where I only saw the depth of my loss, he that sat by me on the bus saw me as one living with the top ten percent  of the Nation.


Yet another lesson in how self-serving I had become; in minimizing a fellow traveler, I had effectively minimized myself!


"This is God's Country." Inside my head, his words continued to repeat themselves in a loop. 


"Where is this so-called God's country?" You may be wondering, my most bosom companion, perhaps with thoughts of relocating?


The lesson on the bus that day is that God's Country is all around us, always; if only our hearts remain open enough so that our eyes may see.


I have given  myself a homework assignment. Whenever I hear myself whining and complaining, I shall make the best effort to pause, breathe, and make the conscious decision to choose Gratitude.


Like any other muscle, the more we exercise Gratitude, the stronger it becomes in us. Let us thank Goodness for that. 


Amen.