Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

I told him to drop me off at the bus station, and when we arrived,he asked, “What bus are you getting on?”I didn’t have any answers for him and wished he would leavequickly so I could sort things out. I pointed at the bus to BishopAuckland, and he helped me get my cases aboard. I sat down,and he waited. I thought, “If only he would go, I’d get off thebus and find out what God wants. I don’t know if I should be onthe Bishop Auckland bus.” Bob stood there chatting until the busleft. He waved as it pulled out, and I waved back.The conductor asked me, “Where do you want booking to?”I didn’t know. I thought I should book to the terminus, so I answered,“Give me a ticket to Bishop Auckland.”I sat looking out the window at the dark November countrysideas the rain came down, the night approached, and the bus trundledon. As we came up to a roundabout, the road south going toLondon and the right turn going to Bishop Auckland, I had animpulse to get off. I couldn’t say God spoke to me and told me toget off, but I had an urgent impulse to get off at the roundabout.There were no houses there. Nothing. It was almost dark andraining hard.My reason said, “Oh no, Lord, not here. At least if I go throughto the terminus, I can get shelter. But not here at this roundaboutwith not a house in sight....” I had to get off.I tapped the driver on the shoulder and said, “Will you please letme off at the roundabout?”“You are booked through to Bishop Aukland,” he objected, “andthere is nothing here. No houses...”“I know,” I answered.“It is raining hard.”“Yes, I know.”“If that is what you want,” he said, “all right.” He stopped and Igot off. Pulling my collar up, I stood on the roundabout. Myreason screamed at me, “You fool! You will be soaked to the skinin five minutes!” I thought all I could do was to thumb a lift. I173