Riding a Bus in Israel/ Eyal Sharon

 

Recently I read an article written by Naomi Ragen, called "The Last Ten Minutes of My Life."    She is an American born novelist residing in Israel.   Her main focus is Israel and the Jewish people.      While reading her story my palms began to sweat as I thought of similar fears (not quite as intense) when I boarded a bus at the Central Bus Station.    I also had just been in Jaffa walking through the shuk as she was.   Thoughts of doom run through your mind but then your faith reminds you that God is in control of all that happens.  My story about a bus ride in Israel had my mind racing as well!   I was traveling on a train from Akko, to Jerusalem, via many stops and changes.    When I got off the first train I was lost, nothing in English!  Wouldn't you know it, four different people asked me how to get to Tel Aviv!  By then I found out how and very proudly told all of them, 'follow me!'    The second train quickly became packed like sardines.  A very young soldier, right out of high school sat next to me.  Eyal Sharon, was his name.  He was one of the nicest, genuine men I met in Israel.  He was old enough to be my son when you do the math (yikes, time marches on) and I thought that one day I hope my little boys would be as kind and helpful as he was.    It was quite a sight as more and more soldiers entered the train with weapons and tired faces from a long day.   Everyone stretched out trying to relax, rifles everywhere.   It looked like an arsenal.  Just another day at the office for them.  Then all the cell phones began to ring.  Talk about the "cell phone generation".   You could hear laughing and see smiles as each had an amusing tune.   There may have been language barriers, but laughing is the same in any language.  Tough looking soldiers would scramble through their bag and tenderly say "hi mom".    Loved ones were calling to check and make sure nothing unusual happened.   All different ranks and branches of service were packed together.    Eyal, started to laugh at me as he heard my terrible Hebrew try to sound out the letters of the train stations we stopped at.  He said 'by time you read, the train will leave and you miss your stop.'   He was right and I was getting concerned as well.  He seemed safe enough so I asked for his help and he said he would gladly escort me to Jerusalem as he was also going the same way.   Thank God for sending this angel.   Whenever he said 'let's go' and the doors opened, a sea of soldiers and civilians were everywhere.   I just hung on to the back of his duffle bag as he made his way through.  Every now and then he'd look to see if I was still hooked on.  Thank God.  Nothing was in English anywhere, I was very surprised by that.  We made our way to the Central Bus Station, in the dark.  The lighting in the parking lot was almost non existent due to construction.   We got our bus tickets and waited with hundreds of others for a bus.   Now I began to watch each person board.   We waited with families, babies, soldiers and tension in peoples faces.  Everyone purposely aware of the people around them.  I kept looking at Eyals, countenance and was reassured as he remained calm.     He threw his duffle bag under the greyhound and we got on the bus.    He kept his rifle across his lap but assured me it would not shoot me by accident, not to worry.  Somehow I felt safe knowing the butt of the gun was next to me.    What would that really do for me in an explosion???   Still, I felt a little comfort.  As one would say 'a false sense of security.'  We all intently eyed each passenger, their bags and if their clothes seemed to be a bit too thick.  I also remember thinking can I get off if I panic?  Is this a good spot to sit if a bomb blows?  I held my breath until I saw the last person board and the doors close.    I think everyone let out a sigh of relief and we all smiled as the tension left our faces.   No one seemed to be out of the ordinary.   I remember thinking 'I said I wouldn't ride any buses.'  But, when you are there, it's a major mode of transportation.    I know my concern was minimal compared to theirs because I have never actually experienced acts of terror.  I can't imagine going through that stress every time I got on a bus.  We live such a protected life in the states.   Once on the bus I looked out the window and there was a beautiful full moon much like the one tonight.  As a matter of fact, it was just one full moon ago!   Time flys, but thinking in terms of cycles of moons....not so long ago.   Eyal, tried to tell me in his rough English about his life.    He attended Kindergarten in the U.S. and still had friends there.   He has two sisters, Noa and Daphne.  They are Hungarian and Romanian decent.  He expressed that his father worried about him, because he was the only boy in the family, but he was not concerned for himself.  They were not a very religious family but still had a love for God and their country.  I asked what his dreams were and he said 'after army I want travel to Norway, I saw picture in magazine, looks nice, then a girlfriend too.'  I said that I wanted a picture of him and that I would pray for him.   I mentioned the little children back home would love to pray for him.   Boys are especially captivated by soldiers.   As the children study the bible and about Israel, having a picture of a real Israeli soldier to pray for is more meaningful.  He coyly smiled and then said 'tell the children, pray for all of the soldiers, not just me.'  I was very taken by that unselfish statement for such a young man himself.  I showed him pictures from my trip...on the ministries new high tech camera, he loved it.  I told him about the Christians in America that love and Support Israel.   He said 'that is good, we want peace.'  Then just outside of Jerusalem he pulled the cord and the bus stopped.  'my home town' Eyal said, and wished me well.   I thanked him and off hopped the angel.  I can only imagine his family waiting as they do every time he's about to come home.    Great anticipation and relief must be felt when they see him on the other side of the door.  Again I thought of my boys.  One day with a blink of an eye, becoming men, defenders of their families and country.............attached is a picture of Eyal Sharon. .......................at Eyals request 'pray for all the soldiers.'   Theresa