The Power of My Faith

A few years ago, I lost my car because it needed repairs I couldn't afford, which was okay with me because I'm not a very good driver anyway and it scares me to drive.  Plus,  I love riding the bus because I always meet the best people.  First of all, I went to an appointment today and found out I got the days wrong -- my appointment is next week.  No problem, I went to the bus stop and waited.  I have to take two buses to get home and I got off the first bus and had to cross the street for the second bus.  There was a woman in a wheelchair who got of the first bus at the same time, so I asked if she needed to cross the street and when she said yes, I told her I had pushed the crosswalk button.  When we crossed the street, to wait for the second bus, there was a crossing guard for the schoolkids on the corner.  It's a cold day today -- it's like October in May -- perfect weather for me but she has MS and the cold is very hard for her.  She asked the crossing guard to help her fish her gloves out of one of the bags on her wheelchair.  When she came up to the bus stop where I was, I told her I would have absolutely helped her with that. 

She said she hadn't asked because 1. she didn't realize I was taking the bus and 2. she didn't want to impose.  And I told her, "No no no, every religion, every spirituality is based on the faith of service to each other.  I will absolutely help anyone who needs it if I can -- that's my faith."

When we got on the bus, we were sitting across from each other so we continued to talk.  I have a psychological disability.  I have a disability bus pass.  Yes, I take medication.  Do not let the fact that I am mentally ill concern you because 1. I know how to manage my symptoms 2. I am the least violent person I know and 3.  Mental illness just means that you have an altered perception of reality not induced by an external substance.  That's all it means.  I don't see the world the way other people do, but then again, do we ever agree about what happens?  I am unique in my perspective, but so are you, so is everybody.  We all notice different things. The difference between me and you is that I require medication to function.  Not unlike someone who has a chronic illness like diabetes requires medication to function.  That's all it is.  Okay?

My medication makes me sensitive to heat and sunlight.  And I live in an area of the US where it routinely drops below 20 F in the winter and often to temps of -25F.  There are times I cannot leave my home because it is either too hot or too cold to wait for the bus.

This woman, this wonderful, gracious, grateful human being who despite her illness is still thriving and loving and helping others and kind and generous and just AWESOME, told me that because I have a disability and my psychiatrist can certify that my medication makes me sensitive to the weather in summer and they know how cold is it in winter, the bus company in my town, which IS AMAZING AND SHOULD BE IN EVERY TOWN no matter how big or small, and I wish I could tell you their name, but I cannot endorse anything on this blog, but believe me, done right public transportation is FABULOUS, if I fill out the paperwork, I will qualify for paratransit.  Paratransit picks you up at your door and drives you to the door of wherever you want to go -- doctor's appointments, the mall, the movies, a concert -- ANYTHING.

This is radically beneficial to me and I found out about it because I struck up a kind, generous, gregarious conversation with a stranger, whose value I recognized as inherent; because treated her with warmth and compassion, she reciprocated.

This is the power of my faith.