From Tacoma, Washington: "when Love speaks," by Angie

This story originally appeared on the blog Angie's Posterous at this address: http://kimangie.posterous.com/?tag=busstories. This website no longer exists. A copy of the original story appears below.


after work last night, i hopped on the 5:31 bus for Route 1 headed out to Spanaway. i slipped into a seat near the window, turned my phone volume back on, and sat contemplating whether or not i should sleep for the 50 minute long ride or read a book. as i was sitting there, i couldn't help but overhear a man talking loudly on his cell phone, across the aisle and two seats back.

he was talking to someone on the other line about how he had just gotten his test results back, and he was 98% cancer free, with just one chemo treatment to go. he went on to talk about his doctor was worried about how his potassium level was low though, being 3.1, while the average level was 3.6. then he went on to talk about how he was headed to Walmart to get a pair of headphones, just a cheap pair.

i know! its rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations. he DID have a loud voice, and the bus was pretty empty. but i kept listening (and remembered all these details) because there was a louder voice inside of me... "angie... tell that man that I love him. and i want to heal him completely of his cancer.."

"um, God?"

i literally sat frozen in my seat, staring straight ahead, my hands gripping my bag and my right ear straining to hear more of the man's conversation, this time with his mom on the other line. as his smooth, Southern drawl continued to share the good news of his nearing victory with his cancer battle, my head was spinning as i conversed with God.

  "okay, God. i'm willing to do it. but HOW? when? WHAT TO SAY? should i just go sit in the empty seat in front of him and say.. hi im angie. im a Christian... no... God wanted me to tell you he loves you.. uh... i know its rude to eavesdrop but.."

"just tell him that I love him.. that I want to completely heal him to show him My love. don't worry, I will give you the words to say."

"alright.. but when? like now?! or maybe when we get to the transit center. he's going all the way to Walmart, so i have time... but if i wait too long, i might chicken out. oh wait. Kmart is the stop where i get off at. i can just stop him then and.. maybe i can pray for his healing from here..should i even do this?!"

"yes. he needs to hear from Me. it won't be you saying it, but Me."

"...and my faith without deeds is dead. i've let chances like this go too many times...i cant let this one go."

suddenly, the bus flooded with people and out of the corner of my eye, i saw the man getting off. WAIT. it was only 40th street.. i thought he was going on Walmart on 208th! i panicked for a second before i pulled the cord to get off at the next stop.

the bus stopped about 3 blocks away and i quickly got off. there weren't any streetlights, so i quickly walked in the direction of the last bus stop. i could spot the dark figure of the man walking towards me on the sidewalk. i kept walking, "God give me boldness. give me boldness."

when i finally reached him, i stopped him. "excuse me, sir. um, sorry to bother you.. but i was on the bus and i overheard you talking about how you were battling cancer."

"um yea, i am. how can i help you, miss?"

"well... hi im angie btw.." (nervous giggle)

"hi angie. my name's dennis." (handshake)

"nice to meet you, dennis. actually, im a Christian. and i (stutter stutter) when i heard you talking about cancer, i heard God telling me to tell you that He loves you. and wants to completely heal you."

"oh.. SWEET! thats so cool."

  "YEA.. so i just wanted to tell you that.. and um. could i pray for you?"

  "sure, that would be nice!"

so i did. in that dark corner of 40-something street and Pacific Ave, Love spoke. Love declared cancer to go away. for potassium to get back on track. for his family's health. and Love spoke for good things in 2010 :)

then i walked on, and he walked on.

i don't know if dennis was actually going to get headphones. and had i decided to sleep (which is 99% of the time that im on the bus), i don't know if i would have been given the opportunity to share that moment with dennis. loving God and loving people is such an honor.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you... whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:15-17, 21)