A few weeks ago, in our discussion of chapter three of Al Hsu’s The Suburban Christian, we discussed transportation as a suburban idol. Even the thought of giving up my car for a week (one of the challenges in the book), almost sent me into a panic attack.
But it did start me thinking . . .
The blessing of a car in my life has allowed me to build and nurture friendships with people who live beyond my neighborhood, and driving to minister and spend time with them seems like a good use of what God has given me. I also carpool when I can.
But I live and work within a couple of blocks from two different bus stops on the same route. With a little extra planning, I could defintely take the bus to work. And I do a lot of my shopping at stores within an easy bike ride. And even the library, bank and post office are all within easy biking distance. If I save up my money and bought a bike, I could cut down on even more car use.
So, after weeks of thinking, planning, and talking, today, I took the bus to work. And it was great. In fact, my eyes teared up out of relief when I got on this morning. But after just one day of riding the bus, I am realizing even more the depth of my dependence and addiction to my car. It’s far more than a mode of transportation; it has become a symbol of my lifestyle and identity.
From my first day as a bus commuter, here are a few observations:
1.) I cared far too much what people thought of me as I stood there waiting for the bus. I didn’t want them to think I HAVE to ride the bus, because I am poor or homeless or disabled or a recovering alcoholic. I wanted them to know that I have a car at home in the garage and that I am taking the bus because I am a responsible, good person. In other words, riding the bus showed me more than ever that I am very self-centered, prideful, and judgmental.
2.) Getting around in an air-conditioned car, driving from my air-conditioned home to my air-conditioned office has totally removed me from the cycles of nature and weather. I might complain if it rains when I’m supposed to have a picnic, and the temperature determines whether or not I wear a jacket, but I generally live quite independently from the laws of nature. And so today, when I left home without an umbrella, I had a dilemma on my hands when the afternoon rain set in. Thankfully, my friend Matthew loaned me his.
3.) For some people, transportation is the difference between getting by and getting ahead. If I didn’t have a car and I worked on the other side of town, trying to get there by bus would take hours. I would then be forced to take a job closer to home or on a closer bus route, and most likely it would pay less. This experiment of mine, riding the bus to work, is real life for a lot of people.
I am not changing the world by riding the bus, but God is slowly showing me that every thing I do each day is a choice, whether I realize it or not. And the more deliberate I am about the choices, the better steward I become.
What choices are you rethinking today?
Related Links
LL’s “Commute This“
Al’s “Countering Commuter Culture“
Sara’s “Bike Culture“
Ted and Craver — Thanks for checking on me. Since I’ve been walking home from work rather than taking the bus, the heat has been a little hard to take. It’s been in the 90s most days when I’m walking home. But my body is adjusting, and I am so thankful to be getting the exercise.
Yeah, I hope you’re surviving this sweltering heat.
Charity, hope you’re doing okay. Am praying for you. And hope you’re enjoying the summer.
Erin — I’m quite certain I am not to deep for YOU! I always appreciate your thoughts. I love the idea that the you are a better steward when it costs you something physically. Maybe that’s a sign that in our culture we are NOT being good stewards of our body. Not simply in the physical fitness since, but also in the since that our bodies can be used for so much work and instead we let them sit around and grow flabby. This week, my bus riding challenge turned into riding the bus TO work and walking home. I was amazed that my own body could provide something so useful for me in about the same amount of time as waiting and catching the bus.
LL — Hi there! I like your credit card angle!
Spaghettipie — I LOVE the idea of heading to the pool more often to meet the people in your neighborhood. It will be interesting to see how much conversation happens naturally and how much you will have to “plan.” Looking forward to hearing your results.
Stacy — How funny about the spitting woman. I can just picture her!
Mark — I like the visual of the tie flying over your shoulder. Reminds me of the mean neighbor in The Wizard of Oz that ends up being the Wicked Witch of the West. In the movie, when she’s riding her bike, she has all kinds of things flying behind her!
On a more serious note, I am hoping to incorporate more bike riding into my life as well.
Oh, Erin, I like that. Walking to reduce credit card bills!
Hello, Dear Charity.
I have crawled out from under my rock to finally write another comment here. Trust me, I have read ALL of your entires and have contemplated each and every one of them. But I have not been able to sit and comment on anything here for a long time. You’re just too deep! I don’t know how to bend time to formulate my thoughts!
I really enjoyed your personal observations about the bus riding experience. (Especially #1- gee, that was like being a freshman in college all over again.)
Most American towns that I’ve lived in are not set up for public transport. But they’re not set up for pedestrians, runners or cyclers either. One really has no choice BUT to drive themselves to work, church, shopping, etc. We’re a nation marked by huge gas-guzzling cars and non-exercising, have-your-dinner-delivered suburbanites… yet there is nothing really in place to help change that. (I lived in a town once that didn’t even have sidewalks!)
When our family lived in Paris, I would walk or ride the Metro everywhere. I found myself choosing very carefully what I took with me (I’d have to carry it) and what I chose to purchase while I was out (I’d have to carry it). This was especially true when it came to groceries… I did NOT want to lug bunch of stuff home that would just sit and go bad in my fridge. And grocery shopping with 2 small children to carry as well made my choices that much more important. It really, really had to be worth it in order for me to put it in that bag over my arm.
I think I was a much better steward when it cost me a lot more physical effort to get the job done. My minivan has such a cavernous trunk. I can fill that puppy up with all kinds of foolish purchases and drive around all day long adding to the pile.
Okay, I think I’ve got it!
Now that summer is here, I’ve been thinking to myself that I need to make the most of my HOA dues and go to our community pool frequently. As I was thinking and praying over this whole idea of stewardship that you propose, I realized that not only would that be a good steward of my money, but also of my time. And not only a good steward of my time, but also my physical location – in a neighborhood. The pool would be a great place to meet (in an unforced sort of way) others who are different from me and build relationships. Given my other thoughts about community, I think it fits that very well too! I just need to be better about interacting with the other people while I’m there.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
charity,
I think your choice to ride the bus is AWESOME!! i actually liked riding public transportation daily for 2 years in Slovakia…it gave me time to breathe, pray, think, dream, and be aware of the needs of those around me (serving by helping moms with strollers or the elderly to get safely seated). you are getting a fresh perspective on people and life by your intentional choice…way to go!
I liked what you commented on about not making “green living” the goal in life…i was convicted of that this week…putting my green ideals ahead of Jesus instead of being green because of Jesus.
In my town we don’t have busses at all. No public transportation.
But then, we are small enough that people can ride bikes and do. Which has made the weather question a big one for me.
Each morning, I have to gauge whether an afternoon storm will keep me stuck at work. I don’t ride as often as I would like, but I do ride, tie whipping over my shoulder and everything.
Charity,
My initial experience with public buses involved a woman named Jenny who talked to herself and spit in her purse. That was in college. Now I would take buses if any of the places I live had them (besides Taiwan). Small Texas towns aren’t known for public transportation. Some days you just want to sit and ride and let someone else battle traffic, don’t you?
Spaghettipie — I have had a similar struggle with finding areas of influence at various stages in life. Sometimes, trying to create a context feels contrived. But again, when the Lord is directing the plan, it can produce amazing results.
Craver — You are indeed redeeming your car time — though I too like the thought of you sitting on the bus thinking, reciting, peaking, adjusting, peaking, reading. In my two days of bus riding, I’ve seen a few interesting things already. Public memorization would fit right in.
LL — I also am amazed at how easily I define myself by such silly things. It’s so much better to define myself by the One who loves me. And when I obey, the definition becomes clearer.
Charity, I loved all of your thoughts and your honesty. These in particular stood out in my mind:
I am not changing the world by riding the bus…
But I think that’s where it starts – God working on one willing person at a time. I mean, Rosa Parks probably thought she wasn’t changing the world that day on the bus, either…
This issue is so tricky because we could easily make “green living” the main goal in life. But it’s not. I am trying to be a good steward as a product of my faith in Jesus.
Wow. I love that perspective. It brings a whole new dimension to everything we do, doesn’t it. You’ve really challenged my point of view!
And what Craver and LL’s thoughts: Isn’t that interesting that our cars may isolate us from opportunities to influence (and be influenced too)?
You know, I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Now that I no longer work, my circle of influence has been reduced to “Christian related” people and places. I need to be more intentional about finding ways to interact and build relationships with people who are different from myself – and that includes values and beliefs too.
I like Craver’s picture of public memorizing. Isn’t that interesting that our cars may isolate us from opportunities to influence (and be influenced too)?
Your expressions of embarrassment were great. Love that honesty! Isn’t it amazing how trained we are to see our identity in these things? But that you admitted this… well, I appreciate that.
This morning, I worked on memory verses. That would have been awkward on a bus… repeating phrases out loud with different intonations.
But if people can talk on their cell phones in public, I guess I could overcome shyness memorize. It’s not like I would be talking to myself, it would be obvious that I was memorizing, as I cover the text, recall, peek, repeat.
Who knows… it could even lead to a redemptive conversation with a fellow traveler.
Ted — Thanks for thinking about this with me. There are so many choices I make each day about what I will use, consume, destroy. Not only must I rethink those, but also how I will give, create, and build — the “put on” to the “put off.” I DO struggle a lot with this though. I do want to be careful about making my choices some kind of standard, though. Otheres’ choices may look a lot different — which your comment reflected.
Stacy — Sorry I haven’t posted for a while. Lots of things going on in my life! (Some good, some bad, of course!) It’s great to hear your perspective from across the globe. This issue is so tricky because we could easily make “green living” the main goal in life. But it’s not. I am trying to be a good steward as a product of my faith in Jesus. So, the choices are not always black and white. I think deliberate walks around the neighborhood sounds like a fantastic addition/continuation to anyone’s life.
Charity,
You’re back! 🙂
Another comparison between this side of the world and the west: One thing that our kids have to get used to when returning to the states is the LACK of independence they have. They HAVE to have a car if they want to be independent. Here, if they want to go to the mall, they just pile in a taxi with their friends, split the fair, and enjoy the day.
On my side, I’m torn. I love not relying on a car, but mainly because driving here is a hair raising experience on a daily basis. Very stressful. In the states, I really enjoy driving. So much so, that I do most of the driving while my husband relaxes in the passenger seat. It’s much more enjoyable to drive in the states, and I look forward to it again.
That said, I don’t see us being able to pick where we live in relation to how little we will drive…that choice isn’t up to us at this point. But I have found that walking places by choice, rather than driving, does keep us more in tune with our environment as you discussed. And we know our neighbors, too. Not just the people who live here, but those who work here as well.
SO…big changes? Probably not. But deliberate walks in the neighborhood and surrounding areas? Absolutely. We have to get out of our boxes! 🙂
Charity, Now you’re making me think that I at least ought to look into that (i.e., taking a bus to work and back).
My car does get me back and forth to work all right, as I get in and out on the passenger side. Engine is good, but it’s rusted badly, especially on the inside.
But your thoughts about choice are good. And I must confess I believe I’m weak when it comes to worrying about personal and family choices that can help or hinder good stewardship. Not all together bad, but weak.
Thanks too for your forthright honesty. I see some very bad things in my own heart at times, as I noted recently on comments on my post on pride (I believe). God’s Word is naturally good at helping us see more of our true selves and in the way God sees us.
My wife, Deb would like the horse and buggy days to be here. Honest. She does love horses so that might be an explanation. Not so sure she’d dig this arrangement in the winter. She does love her car and gets around in it, but with good reasons.