London Buses are RED

LONDON BUSES ARE RED!!!

From September 1963 till July 1965, I was in London, studying on a two-year course to become a Nurse Tutor. Each day I took a bus ride from and to my bed-sit at New Cross (along the Old Kent Road) to attend the course. Becoming a nurse tutor had been my hope for several years.

In May 1964 I was on the bus as usual on the way to college. I’d had little sleep the night before, as my head had been full of thoughts/ideas whirling around. The previous evening I had attended the Hospital Christian Fellowship Meeting at Guy’s Hospital. I’d been going for several weeks due to my friend Iris’s (a ward sister at Guy’s) invitation. The talks and fellowship were excellent and I found the meetings helpful and enjoyable. However that Sunday I’d been restless and troubled, though why? The local church service I ‘d attended that morning had left me puzzled, and disturbed; perhaps Iris could help? She is a very committed Christian and we had had many good chats about the faith. After the HCF meeting that evening Iris, another friend of Jean, and I met and I expressed my queries. “Iris I’ve always believed in God and Jesus” I said (I’d been a regular churchgoer from my teens, Sunday School teacher and involved with the Nurses’ Christian Movement). However, until this ensuing chat, I’d never really been clear or sure about my standing (relationship to/with God).  While we were talking Iris had had her Bible partly open with her fingers holding it. She opened it at that page and read from James Ch 2 v 19 referring to belief and works. What could I do? I realised I had to act on my belief/faith by confessing my sin and my need of salvation and reconciliation with God through Jesus’ Cross. – so I asked God, - Father, Son and Holy Spirit to enter my life and lead me in his ways. Then I thanked Him for this, knowing that the Lord would do this, even though I didn’t feel any different.

A restless night ensued. I was bewildered and joyful in equal measures. The next day work beckoned as usual and I took my journey to the city. It was raining, not heavy but wet. Suddenly I SAW the London Buses – “WOW” were they R-E-D! It was as if all my senses were heightened – I knew I was and am forever a child of God. (John Wesley would say his heart was strangely warmed! ?). I’ll ask him in heaven!

Some time later I discovered the hymn “Loved with everlasting love” 452 in Mission Praise. Verse 2 refers

Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green,
Something lives in every hue,
Christless eyes have never seen,
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flowers with deeper beauties shine,
  George Wade Robinson – 1839 – 1877

As I wrote this account of how God works in our lives I can see the chain of events leading to that day in May 1964.
1) My ambition to be a nurse
2) My ambition to be a nurse tutor
3) Choosing London for the course
4) My friend Jean was a ward sister at Guy’s, London and introduced me to Iris
5) Iris “introduced me to God in a new and living way

Thank you Lord

That’s why London buses are R E D !

Shirley Rowe

P.S. I was reminded of and shared the experience of the London Buses during one of the Friday morning Bible Studies at Banner Cross recently and was asked to write about this.