The train was delayed today. That’s rare.
I didn’t want to be bothered because it was the day of our 2nd major practical assessment for my training program.
I recalled the things I needed for the training which I already prepared the day before,
Venue
Equipment
Materials
Panel
Minor stuff
Trainer
The only item on the list that was missing was me. I looked at my watch and saw that the train was already 10 minutes late. “This is really getting weird,” I thought.
I took off my earphones to check what was going on. I heard announcements on the intercom about trains being cancelled indefinitely due to an injury in one of the train stations.
I said to myself, “How could anyone be so careless!”
I pulled up my transport app and I read that someone died in one of the train stations which caused the cancellation of train trips.
Instinctively, I looked up options on how to get to work, and the app showed me that the train was still my best option.
I got so frustrated. I hate being late. I’ve been late before but with extremely good reason. Tardiness is one of my pet peeves. I visualised managers in state of confusion, trainees with additional anxiety, and my damaged integrity just because I couldn’t make it to the office on time.
I believe that the Holy Spirit whispered to me at that moment, “Otto, someone died. You’re just running late.”
I felt humiliated. There I was, perfectly healthy, with a job that I love and a beautiful family to go home to, but I couldn’t even take time to pause and acknowledge that someone died today.
I stopped whatever it was that I was doing and prayed for the person and the family that he/she left behind. After my prayer, I wondered, “Where’s my compassion? Has my life journey petrified my heart?”
I prayed to God to increase my faith and my ability to love people.
I praise God for those people who can help others and are genuinely generous. I pray to God that He blesses you more so that you can bless others more.
I pray for everyone to accept the challenge of looking out for one another, especially those who God has included in our spheres of life.
Someone died on the train today and I couldn’t care less. Lord forgive me.
1 Peter 4:8
New International Version (NIV)
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
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