Train to Agra

The litter stood out today. It's everywhere. The route to the train station is lined with leentwos and trash heeps. Exiting the taxi, you step into a mob of people so I squared my shoulders and started moving towards the stairs with Fierce in tow. About half way up, he tripped up, so I grabbed his luggage and we proceeded to the top. We weaved our way to the rusted, steel beams of platform 4 and sat on an open bench. Fierce teared up and said he hated New Delhi. I told him I understood, but he needed to dry his tears because we don't want to attract attention. I suggested we play chess to pass the time and this was a really nice way to enjoy our time amongst the chaos.

The train pulled up a little later and I couldn't find our compartment from the outside so when it started to move, I told Fierce to jump on and we will find it inside. Unfortunately, after a bit of discussion, a local man let me know that I was on the wrong train. I calmed my mind and told Fierce it was ok. A family in the seat behind the man overheard our conversation and said in broken English that they were travelling to Agra so this train did go there. Relief. I planned to stand in the aisle, but the local man who had no one beside him said we could sit there and he would stand. It was a two hour ride, so this was so very gracious. Mildly settled, I looked to my right. An elderly turbaned man sat next to me with a bony hand resting on the bars over the open window taking in the sights and breeze. This sounds idyllic until the breeze brings wafts of a sewage smell and the view is basically a trash pit. Eventually this does give way and the countryside appears. The only time I felt the need to close my eyes is when another train went by because I was nervous debris would get in my eyes. Fierce rested his head on my left shoulder and after the first train stop, two girls stood next to us. One sat on the hand rest of Fierce's seat and leaned on her friend. They had very kind, almond shaped eyes and our smiles met. Throughout the ride, vendors go up and down the crowded aisles selling tea, soda, very large tin buckets or pots of Indian food. One man carried a box of bottled water on top of his head as he twisted his body this way and that past people while calling out his offering. A man wearing a woman's dress begged for money and if he didn't receive any, he would clap into his palm like he was threatening to punch the person and after a few distasteful words would move on. I was grateful for the little bubble of people around us because this individual did not waste his time going through our cluster.

I looked out the window and thought about how Jesus called Peter to walk on the water towards Him. He did and he didn't sink until he focused on the waves instead of Jesus. I steeled my faith in the Lord today. Looking back on the day, He really sent so many angels to guide us through the "newness" or senses overload of the experience. When we got to the hotel, we were pretty exhausted. We relaxed with a coffee and Fanta and just enjoyed the hotel for the rest of the day. I read a book, Fierce watch Naruto Shippuden in Japanese, Paw Patrol in Hindi and some good old Netflix on his phone in good old English.

Jesus, I love you.