Christ's love

I have alot of problems with County Hospital in Martinez. This trip gave me more reason to be angry and annoyed with them. I picked up a man, John Wallace, about 70 years old with an extreme speech impediment. For him to tell me anything, he had to write it down. Plus he's in a wheel chair, so at every stop, I have to get the chair out of the back of the cab, get him in it, then push him because he can't do it himself.

The nurse gave me a voucher with instructions to take him to Wells Fargo to get cash, then to a motel where he would spend the night. The voucher had the addresses of both the bank and motel. We get to the bank, which happens to be a Nob Hill grocery store and the bank is just an ATM Machine. My passenger tells me he needs a real bank because he doesn't have a debit card, but only his I.D. First thing I thought was "Thanks County Hospital, for giving me the first address you found, instead of finding out your patient's needs." Since I don't know where the next nearest bank is, I radioed dispatch and asked them to find it for me. It ended up being five blocks from the hospital instead of two miles, where the atm was. I was a little heated but there's more. After we got his money, he told me wanted to stop for some cigarettes on the way to the motel. Instead of getting him out of the cab and into his wheel chair, I went in for him and bought them. The motel ended up being across the street.

Once we got there, I learned of another thing the hospital should have done. They were apparently supposed to make arrangements for a room for him before I ever even picked him up. I talked to the lady at the front desk and she said he didn't make reservations and they do not have any rooms for disabled persons at this time. I asked the lady, "what should I do? I am a cab driver. I can't take him to my house."

I told John that they couldn't take him. He wrote down on paper that if I got him to the Amtrak station He could get to his son's house. Since this part of the trip is off the voucher it becomes his responsibility to pay for the cab. The trip there is only 5 to 6 dollars, so I did it for free.

The County Hospital Personnel only does what they are required to do so that they don't get into trouble. Patients cannot expect anything more.

By the way, this voucher was only worth 10 dollars and pick up to drop off took an hour and a half. Whenever I pick up someone that needs more maintenance than most and takes longer and causes more difficulty, I think to myself "what if this person had gotten a different driver?" Would they treat them the same? I feel that these calls are given to me for a reason. That when I get someone who needs special attention, I must show them Christ's love as best I can.

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

Autographs after the show please

Today, I picked up a lady and her three kids. They were Jr. High and High school. The mom told me I am the youngest cab driver she has ever met and the coolest. At one point, I told her that I'm writing this blog and that I may turn it into a book some day. Her and all the kids got excited. The boy said that he wanted my autograph in case I ever got famous from the book. I told him I would sign my business card for him and jokingly asked him if he wanted to shake my hand as well. They all laughed and then he said, "sure." I signed the card, shook his hand and sent them on their way.

I know there is at least one person out there anticipating me gaining success.

Thanks for reading,


“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

Looney on the loose

Ok, Check this one out. A hospital that loses a patient. Ummm...are you kidding me?

Dispatch sent me to County Hospital in Martinez for a pick up at the Psych Ward. I went to the entrance so that a nurse could buzz me in the door. A man comes out and hands me the voucher which is as good as cash and says that he cannot find the patient. I know what you are thinking, "Psych patient escapes from ward. No good."

If you don't know anything of this County Hospital, please pay attention. Every patient I pick up out of here tells me that they "do not want to be here" and a "cab looks like Heaven compared to it." This isn't the first time I have been shocked by the management skills of this hospital. Every fare from here is a surprise. Kinda like trick birthday candles. What's gonna happen next?

Why am I shocked by anything run by any city, county or state agencies? I can't help it and I always feel sorry for anyone who has to be a patient there.




"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." - Psalm 86:15

"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes." - Psalm 41:1-2

Lost in translation...No! I didn't pick up Bill Murray

I often do pick ups at a Mexican bar & grill on monument called La Cabana. On this particular night, I got a man who I immediately noticed could not speak english for anything. I asked him where he wanted to go. I heard alot of spanish words and one word in english, "Vallejo." I speak english pretty well; other than that, I am at a loss. Anyway, I thought, "great, that's a good fare." I asked him for an address and I have never seen a more blank stare in my life. Then He said, "Ummm...I don't know." Then I went, "AH! Crap." I asked him again just to make sure. Nothing. I told him, "If I don't have a confirmed address to go to, then it doesn't make any sense to go out there." I was so confused at this point.

Why did he call for a cab, if he hadn't the slightest clue where he actually wanted to go? Who calls for a ride, gets in and says, "I don't know" to "Where ya headed?"

After a quick minute, he decides he wants to go 8 dollars up the street off Clayton Road. After I dropped him, I laughed for a good mile later. Most people call a taxi for a reason. Others call because they are possibly drunker than they ought to be.


When you call for a ride, make sure you have a destination first.




“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

Partisan means Patterson

I pulled up to a jewelery shop on Pacheco Street in Concord for a pick up. The man got into my cab smelling of alcohol, clearly and completely drunk. He told me he wanted to go to "Partisan Blvd in Pleasant Hill." I had never heard of it because it doesn't exist. But he insisted that he knew where it was and he would direct me to it. As we get to the far south end of Pleasant Hill, almost to Walnut Creek, he informs me that this isn't right. "We need to go that way," pointing north, where I had previously picked him up in concord. As we arrive back in concord he again tells me that this is wrong saying, "where are we?"

I become quite frustrated with the situation, with him, and his extreme drunkenness. At one point he says "it is near the library." At that moment, I think of the library in Pleasant Hill and it occurs to me that nearby is a street titled Patterson Blvd. I think to myself "are you kidding me?" In his drunken speech, I had heard Partisan. I finally get him to an apartment complex on Patterson and the fare comes to 38 dollars. If I had driven him straight there from the pick up point it would have been 15. I had learned after this night that this kind of problem happens all the time. Drunks have obvious problems talking clearly and cab drivers, like anyone, can't understand them.

Anyhow, after parking I ask for the fare of 38 dollars to which he replies, "I am only giving you 14." He handed me the money and walked off. Since this was my first week in and I really had no clue what to do, I said nothing but watched him walk into the apartment. I called my boss and he said he would call the police immediately. My boss assured me that I was not at fault because the man was to drunk to be understood. Before I hung up, he told me police were on their way.

The officer showed about 5 minutes after and I was able to direct him to the correct room. He talked to him for a good ten minutes and insisted that he pay the whole fare. After all, when you get into a cab you agree on an unwritten contract with the driver. If the driver full fills his part, then the passenger must do so as well. In the end, I got paid and I have actually driven this man twice since. Both times, he was sober and didn't argue against the fare. I guess he learned his lesson. And I have learned mine. Make sure I know where I'm going before ever leaving the pick up point, especially if the passenger is less than sober.




"Jesus said to them, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.' And they marveled at him." - Mark 12:17

A cheating cab driver

Let me first say this. I drive my cab for the glory of God alone. And He says cheating is wrong. So I do my best to be a fair cabbie with every fare. A huge majority are very unfair and deceiving. Others like to point fingers at that those that are wrong. I like to pray for the two. Other than me, I know of only one other driver that claims to be a Christian and I feel that his beliefs may be a little askew. So it can be tough for me to stick to my guns in a sea of those that are quite different. My shifts are twelve hours and I spend a lot of time praying for my safety, my passengers, coworkers, other cab drivers, other drivers on the road, my family, my girlfriend Rachel and her family.

If you had never met me and only knew me by reading my blog posts, you might think I am a great believer and follower of Christ. I haven't really brought to light my spiritual struggles in and outside my taxi on here. Not to say that I will start doing so, but I do want to be completely honest to my readers about who I am. If I claim to be a Christian, I am required to be open and upfront about it.

It is difficult to work in an industry where lying, cheating and hustling passengers and stealing fares from other drivers is common place. Not to say these things do not happen in other jobs. I see it very clearly within this occupation. Everyday I work, is a day I must fight for spiritual survival.

One of the main reasons I love my job so much is that I have the power to make it a ministry opportunity at every turn. I try to play Christian radio as much as possible and speak to everyone as Christ would. I chose to put the Bible verse, Romans 8:5 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us," on my business card which I have passed out like candy. Thank you again to my father, for lovingly making me those cards.

If I could, I would like to ask you to pray for me, those that I work with and everyone I encounter while I'm working. I already know that alot of you do pray and I am much appreciative of that. It means alot to me. Thank you.


Striving to be Christ-like,



"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." - Jude 1:24-25

Holding on with a very light grip...

I had just started my day. It was hot; about 90 degrees. In this particular cab, the AC wasn't working, so I had the windows rolled down and my gps was attached to the windshield. Dispatch had sent me to a call at a motel in Concord on Concord Ave. On the way there, I hit a pothole in the road and my gps had become unglued from the windshield and literally flew out the window going 40 mph. I could not believe what had just happened. My face hit the floor just like my gps had hit the road. As I looked in my left side mirror I saw it bounce in the street and jump into the center island in the bushes. At first, I was shocked then I was mad. I never could have expected that this could happen. I don't see how it could have been prevented. I was mad because that was 200 dollars that had just flown out the window.

When I bought it, I really didn't have the money for it in the first place. I got it because my other one had given out on me and I desperately needed it to do my job. And for it too just drop out the window like that was the worst thing that could've occurred. I immediately made a U-turn at the next intersection. Sitting at the light, which ended up taking two minutes to change gave me time to look at the situation and realize that even a thing like this was totally in God's hands. I had to think, "what is His reasoning here." I stopped being mad and decided that He wanted to teach me a lesson.

I think the lesson involved here is that He can give and take whatever He pleases at any time. I just never thought that it would be an electronic device out a window at highspeed. I finally made the U-turn and parked in a parking lot nearby, ran down the street and ran into the road, looking both ways mind you. I searched in the bushes frantically and found what I was looking for. I was overjoyed. As I saw it, I noticed it was still unbelievably in one piece. How could this be? Then I remember that He had taken it out the window and He had kept it together. I picked it up and felt the deep scars in my coworker; my partner; my friend. It had gotten me to places that I would have never found on my own. The screen wasn't cracked and it actually was barely scratched, but the body of it now has large gashes. I doubted that it would turn on but decided that it couldn't hurt. lol I flipped the switch and it still lives. I found out later that what I had purchased is an american made electronic device. My gps was made in the great state of Kansas of all places. I was so happy to learn that an american made product could be dropped out a car window and still work. Could something from China have as much quality? I didn't think so. I believe God had done this to make me see that I must trust Him in all circumstances in my life. Even by taking a material object for a short time. He put me in my place and humbled me.

All I have is His and everyday I learn to hold onto my things with a very light grip. He blesses me greater than I deserve.

Someone once taught me to hold everything I own with an open palm and never with a grip. If you clasp it tightly, it will be much harder to let go than if you hold it as if you're trying to hand it to God. If He takes it, let it go. If He leaves it, then you are blessed to have it.

Buy yourself a Garmin GPS, You won't be disappointed.


I write this one for you Rach:) I cherish you with a light grip.


“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

He has, does and will always provide

Tonight, I was sitting at BART waiting for fares. The time came to 1:20 when the last train comes in so I decided to swing by Farrington's Pub in Pleasant Hill to see if it was hopping. It was off the hook. As I pull up and park right in front a guy flags me. Four people jump in my back seat and one riding shotgun. Shotgun tells me that everyone needs to go somewhere different. I'm thinkin' Score! This is going to run up my meter. Before I made my way to Farrington's I considered going somewhere else, but felt compelled to go there for no apparent reason. I feel that God was telling me that an Irish Pub is where I needed to go. LoL. He gives me every fare.


“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

Questions?

The most common questions I get from any customer is "is the money good?" and "do you like your job?" Ok, so here it is. The money is average, and yes, I love what I do. My number one answer for "how is your day?" is "I can't complain" and "God is good." If I did complain, would anyone care?

People don't reply to the statement "God is good." I think they are shocked that a random Taxi Driver just said that. To me, it is fun to be a Christian Cabbie. Cuz when they get out of my cab, they have something to contemplate for the rest of the day if they feel convicted to do so. And if they see me again, they know what I believe. If they don't see me ever again, I have just planted a small seed in a huge field.

I think people want to ask me questions about my job because the Taxi Industry is quite unknown. All people seem to know is that cabs pick up and take individuals where they need to go. They are curious. I try to give answers as best I can. Plus, talking passes time. And a 12hr. shift is a long time.

Do you have any questions? Please post them as comments. Thank you.

Peace be the journey,


"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15