Yesterday I boarded the Metro here in Virginia to travel into DC for a day of sightseeing. Little did I know that the most memorable thing of the whole day was not a monument on DC’s Mall, but it was about to happen on the train ride right in front of me.
After boarding and getting settled into our seats the train began it’s normal stops on the way into the city. 4-5 stops into the ride a small, middle aged, Asian man boarded in the center of the car and stood directly in the middle facing toward the opposite side of the car. I at first thought it odd for him to be standing in such a position, but just passed it off as nothing but his preference in having the ability to promptly hop off at the next stop. The doors closed and just as the train began to move the Asian man said in a loud voice “ladies and gentlemen your attention please”. He then looked down to the book he was holding and began singing. I just half way grinned and looked down as to ignore him like everyone else on the train (I’ll admit it was kind of hard to do). It didn’t take me long to recognize the song he was sing, or the tune rather. I looked up and from my seat I could see that he was holding a hymnal. He was singing “Marching to Zion”, but it was in his native tongue so I’m sure that few if any could actually understand him, but it was at that point that I began to understand what was going on. He wasn’t there to beg for money and he wasn’t just some crazy guy…he was doing what God wanted him to do…he was in his very own way trying to witness to people on the train. There was a level of awkwardness that ran down my spine as I was beginning to wonder what the others on the train were thinking of all of this…well…I didn’t have to wonder too long because people began to vocalize their thoughts. The details on this part are a little fuzzy on what was said exactly, but there was a middle aged white man dressed in a suit that lashed out saying something to the effect of “stop singing! no one on this train wants to hear you sing! this is a public train! you can’t do this!” The Asian man didn’t even pause or make eye contact, he just kept singing. The confronter got off at the next stop and in the process managed to anger another middle aged man, whom by his body language didn’t seem to agree that the confrontation was necessary. Actually the two men outside of the train were nearly in a fist fight before we pulled away and I wasn’t able to see anymore…all the while, the Asian man kept singing. Shortly after that a second confronter arose repeating basically the same thing “would you please stop singing…this is a public place! I am going to report you!” By this point the confronter had raised his finger into the Asian man’s face and I guess that was over the line because the Asian man slapped the confronter’s hand down…but still didn’t make eye contact, nor did he stop singing. Shortly after, he finished his song, closed the hymnal, and in broken English said “God Bless you all” then walked away.
It was simply one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever witnessed as a Christian. It was a simple thing, but he did it because God wanted him to and even through his persecution he kept on singing…what an awesome step of obediance.
I could say more, but I think I’ll leave it at that…feel free to post your thoughts.