The Magic of Trains

I love trains! It all started on my mission in Italy. My first city was on the outskirts of Rome and we often took the train to the city. Our area covered about 40 other small cities so we frequently used the train to transport us on our many adventures.
There is something magical about a train ride. Maybe it's just the hot smelly environment that makes it seem like you are living in a dream.
I love sitting there and watching the beautiful country fly by. I love how the train always takes the back road.
Trains inspire me. My mind tends to wonder when I'm on the train. It makes me think about life.
I love all of the people you can meet on the train. You're stuck in a little area with a complete stranger; they could be a farmer, an engineer, a business man, a single mom. Anyone!
The other day I was on the train and a man was talking to someone across the aisle. He said "All of us are different! We all have different dreams and aspirations, but when it comes down to it, we're all the same"
Life is like a big train. We are all different, we have different dreams and different lives, but we're all on this train together. And we're all headed in the same direction, we are all wanting to arrive at happiness. Some of us get off the train early. Some of us sit anxiously on the train hoping for the ride to be over soon. Sometimes the train is late and there are delays in getting to our destination. Some of us sit on the train and awe in the beauty of the world passing by. It goes by fast; the time. And before you know it, the train ride is over.

You've met different people on the way; people that you may have never chosen to know. Maybe it's fate, maybe it's God.
One week in Rome I was having a particularly hard time. I was feeling discouraged at my lack of ability to speak Italian. We were sitting on the train and I was reading a talk by David A. Bednar called "The Tender Mercies of the Lord". He explains that "the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ"
At that moment of frustration, sitting on a train in Italy, I said a small prayer and just asked the Lord to send me a tender mercy.
Just then a woman sat down next to me, and in between my little teary snuffles I managed a "Ciao". And this little Italian woman started talking to me. She spoke slowly and clearly and had patience to repeat herself when I told her I didn't understand. She listened to my terrible Italian and tried to understand what I had to say. It was the first time I had a real conversation with an Italian. And it was just what I needed. I needed someone to come and listen to me and I needed someone to speak to me without getting frustrated. And that was my very clear tender mercy from the Lord. He placed that kind Italian woman on the right train, at the right time, in the right seat, just for me. And I'm sure she has no clue what she did! And I'm sure she doesn't even remember me. But I remember her, and that conversation gave me the confidence to keep going and not give up.
(And the fact that my amazing companion took a photo of this moment is a tender mercy in it's own)

 

We're all on this train called life. We're all here together, learning from one another. It's an adventure! A beautiful adventure. Oh the magic of a train ride!