I’m So Happy I Listened To God
Welcome to the next daily installment of this true story, which you can find posted here each afternoon until it comes to an end.
Chapter 78: God Embarrassed Me And I Could Barely Stand Another Minute Of It
That morning, God told me to sing hymns, all by myself, to sing, to sing, and to keep singing. For some 45 minutes, I did so, kicking and screaming, asking God to please release me from that embarrassing duty he was giving me.
“Do you really want me to continue this? Really?” The answer was an unequivocal yes. So, I kept singing.
And then, God put Don into the seat next to me. Don wasn’t looking for me. Don wasn’t expecting this from his train ride. Don probably wanted to read a book or take a nap. He definitely didn’t need another friend, and definitely wasn’t getting on the train to get into some deep conversation with some stranger that he wouldn't ever see again.
God planted that man right there, right next to me. He told me to sing and keep singing. I obeyed. And while I cannot tell you everything that God intended for that period of me singing, I can tell you this much: God put a present right next to me, instantly telling me how good it was for me to just obey Him. He put a brother in Christ right there next to me. I had no idea how badly I needed those six or so hours of us sitting next to each other and just being happy to be with each other and with God. God sent one of His servants to minister to me. Thank you God. Thank you God. Thank you God. Thank you so much God.
Fort Collins man soon went on his way back to his sleeper. We went on our way back out to the observation car. Don and I would soon form the foundation of a very special part of this train trip.
Chapter 79: Something You Don’t See Often On A Train
For the next six hours or so Don and I were inseparable. It was an amazing six hours of Christian fellowship. I was able to talk over a number of concerns I’d been struggling with. He is not a definitive voice, but he was a helpful voice of a Christian peer, and a voice of experience.
In this way, the sunrise service conversation extended almost until the sunset service. Only three people were involved in the sunrise service and all at different times, but the encounters were good.
Two other people joined Don and I in that space before long, and then two other people after that. Soon the head conductor of the train sat and spoke with us. He was with us for a total of perhaps 90 minutes. I’ve never seen anything like that on a train and couldn’t even imagine that happening. Most conductors you see for 15 seconds as they pass by. Out of 8 hours spent on a train with a conductor, you are going to see them for literally 15 seconds, not 90 minutes. Before long Don had to leave. Our conversations after Don were mostly about scenery and silly things, but it was clearly the place to be on the train.
God sent me Don. Don and I formed the stable foundation that people gathered around. It really was the place on the train to be. As people walked by, there was no question that they wanted what we had. It was as if good was drawn to the place where we were sitting. Even the conductor was drawn there.
As sunset neared, I invited all who were there in our group to participate in the sunset service. Three of the five attended. They did not participate though. I believe seeds were planted even though they did not participate.
Bear with me for a moment as I mention people you do not yet know, but who you may come to know. I prayed for Eagle Eye Katie as she left the train. Her and Dave gave up their chairs next me to exchange with more interested people who came for the sunset worship service. Dave stayed for the service and quite a while after but listened from a distance. Chuck stayed for part of it, then gave up his chair to a more interested person. Jacob left the train before the service. Eric went to dinner when the service started. Those names mean nothing but maybe they can help indicate the constant milling around and movement.
I think there is something to the whole worshiping God on the train and praying for people on the train idea. And when I say that, I am speaking a gross understatement. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God!
How this week continued to be a week that left me in total awe. How this week continued to be a week that left me absolutely dumbfounded. Not once. Not twice. Not once or twice a day, even, but it left me dumbfounded more than it left me not dumbfounded.
The more I listened to God and obeyed, even in the difficult, the more I began to understand the ways of God.
Chapter 80: “Sacrifice”
Was I ever liking this life of “sacrifice,” for God. It doesn’t feel like much of a sacrifice once you realize that whatever you had to give up that morning in order to follow Him was about 1% as meaningful to you as any randomly selected 10-minute period of following the will of God. It really is like trading a bologna sandwich for a steak dinner and calling it “sacrifice.” Only the difference is even bigger than bologna and steak.
-Allan Stevo
This is a selection from my forthcoming book, “The Amtrak Vignettes.” A neat story began with the writing of “The Amtrak Vignettes” in October 2023. Every day until that story comes to an end, I intend to share a part of it here. It is a part of my faith journey as a Christian, a faith journey that has been deepened since the Ides of March 2020. Some of it gets pretty wild and nothing that a “reasonable” person would find himself in the midst of. Few will be scared off by it. Instead, many will grow deeper in their faith. I know that, because I know my readers well, and I know that few come here expecting me to give a milquetoast version of anything. Come here to be challenged. Stay here to have your life changed. That, I believe, is what will come of this work. You can support that work by signing up below.