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Matthew 25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

Our church is a bus stop!

As I took a mid-run break at the church this morning, I followed my routine of greeting the boys (who typically hang out together on the front porch of the church, waiting for the school bus), then go inside and greet the girls and the InterServe worker, who are wisely enjoying the indoor temperatures during their wait.

5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 

On this morning, I cracked a joke about the temperature with the boys, then went inside. I saw and greeted four students who were waiting in the church's front entrance. As I was talking to one of them about an invitation to Winter Jam '26 with the Sojourn Youth Group, the worker declared that the bus was approaching!  Each of the four students rose from the entryway carpet and grabbed all the materials that they were taking to school. Each one begrudgingly ambled to the door to face the doomed end of their Christmas break!

7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’

As I was speaking the Aaronic blessing over them from the front porch railing, the students filed down the steps, proceeded across the sidewalk, and entered the awating school bus doors. Then I noticed one boy emerge from the church doors behind me - also clutching his daily school-luggage. He was behind the four that I had seen inside, and he was not trying to catch up with the crowd. 

As he approached the church stairs, he pivoted and declared, "I forgot something!" He ambled back into the church with no additional speed or determination, disappearing back inside the double doors. I descended the steps and made eye contact with the bus driver, putting my hand up to have her wait on the last student who did not have all that he needed for school.

10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The bus driver waited for the entering students to be seated, then looked at me and said something I did not hear. Alas, the unexpected happened - the bus driver closed the door! I waved my arms for her to wait on the child, while trying to wave back at the church for the child, now at the doors, to hurry up and get on the bus.

The student emerged from the doors at the same time that the bus driver hit the accelarator pedal on the bus.

Too late. 

There was a time for those who were prepared to get on the bus. Those who were not prepared missed out. The bus driver is going to stay on schedule.

13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.