ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP—next time won’t you sing with me?
Hmmm, innocent little song and innocent letters on there own. Yet I hear so often from some of my students, “Bus driver, so and so said the A-word, B-word, etc.”
Yuck, profane words for 8 of these alphabet letters from precious students who ride my bus.
The letter ‘F’ seems to be the most common—not only with students but also in books, movies, and even bleeped out on TV! I even find it occasionally while surfing online and most recently while going from one blog to another. I read a man’s warning to steer clear if you don’t like profanity because he doesn’t appreciate anyone preaching at him. And profanity is what he used to express his rage after his wife died after giving birth to their first and only child. I chose not to read past the disclaimer—yet I wonder how this man is doing. I suspect and even trust that others read and pray and share in his grief in some way.
I’ve heard it said that those who use profanity, use it mostly to exclaim in anger or surprise or awe—and they don’t have the ability or intelligence to come up with words that would express what they mean. Kind of an all weather word for some who like to shout, offend, and converse this way. Although for many years those same were able to refrain in a professional setting? Hmmm…kept mouth shut…or found other words to say?
So many movies and books recommended tend to have those dreaded words, yet in context? The most recent hearing was an audio book story about a rape victim/survivor…Lucky. Uh, how lucky can a rape victim be?
And honestly, although it was hard to hear her say the words at times, I understood her anger. Yet is there a way to express it other than profaneness?
Perhaps profanity breeds’ profanity, not perhaps, it does—unless, well forgiveness?
Jamila generally has been my profanity proof monitor.
While I appreciate her warnings—“mom you wouldn’t like this or that”.
I’d rather that she wasn’t exposed to it either.
Although, there was one movie that I recall that she recommended I see despite the dreaded profanity, since she knew I would appreciate the film making and storyline. And I did enjoy the movie Crash. And yes the profanity was offensive. Yet, in order to portray the real life experiences—As this is how life is lived in so many ways—The profanity was there in context?
Hmmm, yes, but not necessary…if well, unless…we learn a better way.
So, the most often occurrence for me
Is on the bus where there is cussing
Not only the students, but also some parents
And even bystanders and drivers by
Oh the profanity that fly’s and fly’s and fly’s
If not with words
It is those well-known gestures.
So while I am driving the bus, I can’t hear everything
Most often the cursers tend to sit near the back
What I do hear comes from any age student and most often reported and tattled
And while I don’t like that they cuss
I also don’t like that they leave a mess on the bus
As they eat and leave their trash
Yet it is not possible to prevent all the trash
And still drive the bus
So I’ve come up with a response
In order to keep some semblance of order and peace in my mind
I remind all of the rules and
Tell those who are telling me what others are doing:
“Let me catch them while I’m driving—you can tell me at a stop”
“I don’t like to clean up the mess or hear naughty words, BUT!
I’m much more concerned all are sitting and not hitting”
I pray and I say— “if I have to stop fast, I hope no one fly’s down the aisle
And ends up with their face on the floor or front window”.
There was a young man on my bus accused of saying the most common cuss.
And I even heard him say it. Yet he denied as most do—that what was reported was not a cuss word. As I listened to him and I knew what he’d said. Yet perhaps he truly didn’t know? Since it is an everyday occurrence?
It was that way for me at a time in my life. When my children were young and I was not following Christ. My mouth so profane, was truly a picture of the hatred and blame that my hard heart contained. Now I can see—in my defective character, I didn’t choose the best way to express—My pain–my failures—my insatiable need—In any other way—except for to bleed—4 letter words and their many derivatives repetitively from my mouth.
Wow, it’s no wonder these students who experience hardships in life
And hear these words so commonly in media and environment
Would so easily use it as they have
Not yet learning how to express well in some cases
Although it may be a call for attention as they shock others
And some know exactly what they are saying
Too many occurrences of profane language are appearing
And I have to discern and decide.
Discern and separate the profanity from the person
And decide how best to respond.
Whether it’s to ignore and move on.
Or stand and confront
Or speak truth and continue to love
Or report and let someone else deal with it
It must be all of these while I’m on the bus
I must address each report
And respond sharply with love
That it is not ok to use profanity on my bus
And they will be reported to the school
And their parents will be notified
I pray the parents take it seriously
Instead of ignoring
Since I cannot ignore it on the bus
Why should they be allowed to ignore the report?
Yet they do.
I know
Some are single
Some are in abuse
Some are angry
Some are addicted to worldly substances
And they need help
I know cause I’ve been one of these
Yet the church is too fat in more ways than one way
All the comfortable seats to accommodate largesse
Ah yes, it keeps coming back to that profanity for me
That I must honestly deal with and get support for my life
Then have the energy and ability to do something more with my life
Than feeding my face after driving the bus
Or sitting on the couch and watching TV to zone out
And while I know I alone can’t possibly be
Responsible for every wrong in the world
I am thankful to God for this bus-driving job
As it is reminding me of my responsibility to deal with me
And the grace, power and strength is available in prayer and in community in the body of Christ.
At least…it is supposed to be.
I know a fit and healthy body and mind
Would do wonders to glorify God!
I pray to be a catalyst to change my lifestyle
Where profanity is uncommon
And love, grace, and strength is abounding.
Amen.
