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

the church members who would approach me, say “Hello,” andslip money into my pocket. If the Lord wants me to go, here I am— but nobody came and the bus arrived. I wondered what todo.The Lord had said, “Act normally,” and I thought, “Well, all right.If I act normally, I’ll just act as if I have money in my pocket.” Iraised my hand, and the bus stopped. I stepped onto the bus,walked to the front, and sat down.Then my heart began to talk to me. “You stupid, stupid, sillyfool! You got on this bus without any money.”“The Lord told me to get on this bus and act normally,” I argued.“Ha! Act normally!” came the response. “You fool. You’re notacting normally. You’re a fanatic. You are an idiot! You don’thave your bus money.”“I know I don’t, but God told me to act normally,” I repeated.“Act normally,” my heart said. “That was your own thought. Thatwasn’t God — as if God would tell a man to get on a bus withoutany money. You’re going crazy. You are a fanatic.”“I am not,” I argued.“Yes, you are,” my heart insisted.So I got into a silent ding-dong in the front of the bus. The conductorwas upstairs on the double-decker, when the bell rangand the bus stopped. A crowd of a dozen people got on all talking,laughing and shouting. I looked around but didn’t recognizeany of them. I got on with my personal battle, “The Lord toldme to act normally.”“The Lord never told you to do that. Do you realize what willappear next week in the Muswell Daily Times? ‘Local pastor turnedoff bus through attempting to ride dishonestly.’ That is what itwill say. You are bringing disgrace on the work of God.”“No, I am not!” I argued. “I am acting normally. God told me.”At that moment, my battle was interrupted when I heard somebodyin the back of me say, “Praise the Lord!” I looked aroundto see who it was, and a man stood up.50