Walking to Church and Friday Night Trolley Music

I like to attend Friday night service at my church and last Friday I was especially blessed by the comfort of knowing God and then after church I heard live music on the trolley ride back home.

I took the trolley to the transit station that is closest to the church I attend. As I walked the nine-tenths of a mile to church I realized that I have been walking to churches throughout my life. When I was struggling through adolescence in high school, I cut school and walked the seven long miles to my church. Years later when I was struggling through my second marriage, I walked to a neighborhood church alone, seeking answers and peace about the rocky relationship. More than a decade later after I had gotten divorced, moved to California, remarried and then widowed and was alone again I clung tightly to God and sought solace in church.

During the recent trials of unemployment and soul searching I walked up the hill to the Pentecostal church that is minutes away from my home and again sought God in the local church. One Sunday I heard worship coming from a tent in a parking lot nearby and walked again to that church service seeking comfort in the company of believers.

I enjoy my lone, solitary walks to houses of God and He blesses me with safety and special blessings on my journey. Like last Friday, as I boarded the trolley back to my home and found an empty booth right away, I noticed a guy strumming a guitar and singing softly. The trolley wasn’t crowded and the guy with the guitar continued his serenade for the small crowd. He was pretty good and asked the people aboard the trolley whether we enjoyed his music. Everyone agreed that he was good and enjoyed his music.

Someone must have asked him his name because I heard him say “Some people say I look like Jamie Foxx”, so he calls himself “Fox Washington”. I turned around to look at him when he said this and he really did look like Jamie Foxx! I asked him if he was sure he wasn’t Jamie Foxx because this guy was a dead ringer for Foxx. He laughed and said, "No, I'm not Jamie Foxx, I guess I just look like Jamie Foxx." He had longer, curlier hair and glasses but even after a long, second look at him he still looked like Jamie Foxx. One guy said, “Now do a rap song.” He obliged and did a short rap string and continued entertaining the trolley crowd as he brought smiles to those around him.

He continued his serenade and I was kind of sorry I had to disembark at my stop but was filled with joy and gratitude at my Friday night trip to church and back. Those feelings and special blessings are why I continue to seek out God in the company of believers and why I remain God Strong.