The Wheels on the Bus: Turning Time to Thrive in Twenty Twenty-Five

Scripture for the Journey:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge God, and God will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

“The wheels on the bus go round and round”—a simple nursery rhyme that carries profound truth about life. The ever-turning wheels symbolize the relentless passage of time, the unceasing motion of our existence. As one year closes and another begins, we are invited to reflect: What is the bus we are riding? What is the journey we are on?

The bus represents our shared humanity, a vessel carrying us through life’s winding roads. Each of us is a passenger, bringing our own baggage—memories, pains, triumphs, and unspoken questions. Over the past year, some passengers have stepped off: loved ones who have passed away, dreams that have faded, and relationships that have ended. Yet, at every stop, new passengers board—new opportunities, connections, and lessons waiting to be embraced.

The wheels turning remind us of life’s cyclical nature. Seasons shift, years roll by, and we revisit familiar emotions—joy and sorrow, hope and despair, laughter and tears. The pain of this past year—disappointments, losses, and struggles—may linger, but the wheels persist, carrying us closer to healing, growth, and understanding.

Let me add another metaphor: a pencil. This holds personal significance for me. When I was preparing for my primary school examination, I didn’t even have a pencil. But God, in His providence, provided one in the most unexpected way—a pencil floated up from a drain during a rainstorm. That moment taught me that He always makes a way. If the bus is life, the pencil is the tool we use to interpret it. Over the past year, we’ve written many words: promises unfulfilled, dreams unraveled, and moments seemingly erased by circumstances beyond our control. Broken relationships are like smudged words on a page, leaving faint outlines even after being erased. Yet the pencil offers a deeper truth: it must be sharpened to write. The sharpening process, though painful, is necessary. It mirrors the trials we endure to grow, reminding us that brokenness is not the end. A pencil with a broken tip can still be sharpened and used again, just as we can rebuild after loss or failure.

This past year has underscored the critical importance of mental health. Many of us have struggled to keep our wheels turning, feeling as though the pencil of our lives has been worn down to a nub. But even when we feel erased, the pencil reminds us that we can write again. Preserving our peace of mind requires intentional care—resting when needed, nurturing our emotional well-being, and refusing to let life’s relentless motion deplete us entirely.

The new year is a blank page. What will we write? How will we honor the lessons of the past while releasing what no longer serves us? Resolutions without reflection are like a bus with no destination. Let us resolve to cherish the passengers on our bus, nurturing meaningful relationships and forgiving where we can. Let us care for the wheels, prioritizing balance over busyness and ensuring our mental and emotional health remain intact. Let us embrace the sharpening of the pencil, understanding that growth often arises from pain and brokenness. Above all, let us write with intention, crafting stories filled with hope, love, and purpose.

As the wheels of time turn into a new year, we are called not to ride passively but to engage fully in the journey. We must shape our stories with courage and intention, supporting others along the way. And when life feels as though it is erasing us, we can trust that God, the ultimate Author, writes our stories with grace, even when the lines blur.

The wheels on the bus will keep going round and round, but the question is this: Will we choose to go in circles, or will we move forward with purpose? This year, sharpen your pencil. Write boldly. Ride the bus of life with courage. And trust the One who turns the wheels to guide you safely home.

-Jermy Arnold