After waiting patiently the bus finally arrived.  The dear old lady, an amazing woman of 93 years, who served in the Army in WWII – among other things – and was a member of our faith community in Seattle, finally got the bus ride she was so longing to take.

For about three months she has been actively waiting for the bus ride to the other side.  This is her euphemism, not mine.  With great faith and strength of character, she actually looked forward to getting on the bus that would take her to the next life.

During our time in Seattle, I had to stop and visit with her, knowing it would be for the last time.  She expressed her disappointment to me that the bus wasn’t coming fast enough.  All I could say was “It will come in God’s time, not ours.”  That seemed to comfort her for a moment, but only a moment.

This past Friday evening at 5:30 the bus finally came for her and she gladly got on.

Her long-time friend, and 24 hour care-giver for the past three months, told me that at mass yesterday they sang “How Can I Keep from Singing?”  She knew that was a message that her dear friend who had gotten on the bus had arrived at her destination.  My message from the dear woman came during my prayer via one of my favorite saints, St. Therese of Lisieux, when I read that she had said: “It is not death that will come for me, but God.”  How true that is and how wonderful to know that this grand lady of 93 years was met at the bus by our God.

Her journey to her home in heaven is one that could teach us all a few things.  It makes me wonder how eager and how ready I am to get on the bus, singing, and to meet God. Perhaps by recognizing God’s touch through the moments of grace in our lives each day we are slowly getting ready.