The School Bus

Imagine that we are in a car behind an elementary school bus. The bus is making its daily stops. We see every child as they say goodbye to their parents and board the bus.

The bus gets to its first stop. The flashing yellow warning lights come on. Then the steady red lights which tell us that they are stopping to let someone on. Cars on both sides of the road come to a stop. The doors of the bus open.

Two little white girls with backpacks and their father are standing in front of a pickup truck. He gives them both hugs and they run to the bus. The father watches them as they get on. The door shuts. The father walks to his truck. The little girls find a seat and sit down.

The red lights go off and the bus moves forward. About 100 yards later the warning lights come on as it approaches the next stop. The red lights come on as the bus stops in front of a small one-story house. All traffic stops with it. The door opens.

Outside, we see a Hispanic mother with two little girls carrying backpacks on each side of her. The mother has an arm around the shoulder of each. When the bus stops, the girls say goodbye to mom and sprint for the door. They hop on as mom watches. The girls find their seats. The bus pulls off. Mom turns and walks to the house.

The bus goes about a quarter of a mile. Up ahead we see three African American children with backpacks and books. Two girls and a boy. They are a little older than the girls at the first two stops. Their mother watches them as they watch the bus come near.

The bus stops as before. The three children wave to mom and she waves back.  They board the bus with the girls getting on first. The doors shut. They find their seats. The bus continues.

What we have just seen is the potential of America board the bus. Three different races together under one bus roof. All headed to the same destination. All headed for an opportunity to learn and grow.

But there is something else.

Every time that these children ride that bus it is an opportunity for them to fellowship with one another. To learn each other’s names. To learn about their families. To learn about their backgrounds. To become friends. Walls can be broken down. Lifelong relationships can be built.

And maybe, just maybe all of them will learn that they have value. That they are all in this world together. That they can all help each other to make this country a better place.

The children on that school bus represent hope.

For all of us.