NYC: Part 2 of 8

This is one of an eight-part series about a Southern man and his journey to New York City in 2001, sent there by God’s calling.  These writings are based off his personal journal. 

The day was September 11, 2001,  and I was meeting with a man about buying my car.  We had agreed to meet at the bank, sign over the title, and give me the money for the sale.  We met at 9:30, just after the tragedy had occurred.  As we were signing the papers, they had a TV right next to us.  How awful it was.  Just think, this could have happened anywhere.  I am so glad for the ones who were ready to go, but my heart grieved for those who weren’t.  A sense of urgency came into me to share the love of Jesus .

The next few days I prayed for and watched the tragedy on TV.  I didn’t know, and still don’t know, if this had anything to do with me going to NYC.  I did know that this was not a reason for skipping the journey. 

I called Greyhound on Wednesday.  I was taking the bus because it was a lot cheaper than the $400 one-way air fare.  I knew I could handle the bus ride and could use the money saved for a weeks stay at a motel.  They told me that buses would start running to New York City on Saturday.  So I got my ticket.  It would only be a 20 hour trip; last time it was 27.  I called the Vanderbilt YMCA and got my room for $70 a night.  Much better than the $139 per night at Comfort Inn.

On Saturday, I got on the bus to NYC.  We had a switch in Cleveland.  I got on the bus and went to the back.  There were three empty seats across the back of the bus.  Through my experience, I knew this was the best place to stretch out and enjoy the ride.  There was an empty seat in front of me, next to a Hispanic woman.  As I sat there, I saw three oriental girls coming towards me.  They looked at me and started laughing.  One of the girls asked if I could move to the seat in front of me so that they could all sit together.  I just laughed and traded seats. 

I couldn’t communicate very well with these girls, but I felt the love of God welling up in me.  Last week I bought an inflatable travel pillow at WalMart.  The next day, I felt God telling me to purchase three more.  So I did.  I now knew that I would be giving them out to the girls.  After talking and laughing with these girls (mostly them laughing at me), I started digging in my carry-on bag and pulling out those pillows, one at a time, until each girl had one.  Of course, I had to demonstrate how the inflated.  They all laughed.  I prayed that God would reveal Himself to them.

As the bus arrived in New York City, I looked off in the distance to see where the Twin Towers had stood in Lower Manhattan, some 38 blocks away from Upper Manhattan.  It was now September 26, and you could still see the smoke.  I thought about how our problems are nothing compared to the problems of the ones directly affected by this tragedy.  I hoped that God would draw them closer to Him.

I loaded up my three bags, left the bus station, and hailed a cab to take me to the YMCA.

As I was standing in line to check into the YMCA, I realized that I had left my two New York folders that contained all of my papers, stories, and maps.  I remembered setting them down as I picked up my bags at the bus station.  I quickly checked into the YMCA and went to the bus station, praying all the way.  Sure enough, they were right were I had left them. 

I was so excited that I had found the folders that I went over to a guy who I thought worked for the Port Authority Bus Terminal and gave him a written copy of my earlier experiences in NYC.  He promptly asked me for money to buy a cup of coffee.  I had $2 in my pocket so I took the money out, stuck them in his hand, and said,

“Have two cups of coffee.”

Later I thought that anywhere but New York City, $2 would buy more than 2 cups of coffee.  I walked away, ready to follow God in New York City.