Christ rides with me

Amid the exhaust fumes and the noise,

Amid the rows of girls and boys,
I board the bus.
But not alone;
Christ rides with me.

I can’t help but hear the gossip of the day,

And some crude words I wouldn’t say,
But I’m not alone;
Christ rides with me.

I’m the oldest one on the bus this fall,

Old friends I knew have moved away,

Yet I’m encouraged when I recall:
I’m not alone;
Christ rides with me.

I usually don’t like the bus,

But I guess there is one plus,
I’m not alone;
Christ rides with me.

Penny Enns wrote this poem just before her grade 12 year in 2000. She used to carry it in her pocket and sometimes read it on the school bus. She and her husband Steve are members of Waldheim MB Church; they are currently with New Tribes Mission in Durham, Ont.