The man who drives this bus is one of the most important leaders in the world.
It is not because he rose to the ranks of leadership to captain in the Marines. It’s not because he was a leader in the FBI—the No.4 man at the Bureau. It’s not because he was an executive at a Fortune 500 company. The man who drives this bus—Mike Mason—is an important leader because of his leadership by example. At 63, Mike retired with a formidable resume, only to trade it in for one of the most important positions he has ever held—driving a school bus.
"I think in our society we need to get next to the idea that there are no unimportant jobs. I mean, what could be more important than the attention we pay to our education system?"
The Chesterfield County Public School District was 125 bus drivers short, so he signed up. "I still had a mind and I still had things I was capable of doing," he said. Mike had a mind to work. This mindset is not Mike’s alone. The leader of this mindset is Christ:
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8
What is in this mindset of service?
Humility is the makeup of the mind of Christ. Christ had quite a resume and reputation.
... but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself… Philippians 2:7-8
He was the Son God, equal to God. He wore a uniform—greater than that of a Marine captain or FBI agent— a wardrobe of perfection and supremacy. Yet, He voluntarily exchanged His Deity, His Priestly robe for a servant’s apron and towel. That takes humility, to go from God to lowering oneself to literally become a washer of feet, as He did to the disciples in John 13:1–17.
In a lesser, but no less profound way, Mike set aside his reputation, resume and uniform adorned with Marine captain collar insignias, for street clothes and waxing rags. That’s right. He actually hand-polishes his school bus. What an example of humility. Can you set aside (but not devalue) your past credentials for the “street cred” of sweaty brows and calloused hands? No job is unimportant.
Second, obedience is the makeup of the mind of Christ:
…and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8b
Christ answered God’s call to be a “John 3:16” gift of salvation to the world, to leave His heavenly throne for an inglorious earthly existence whose end was death on a cross. Jesus had a choice, but as His Garden of Gethsemane prayer displays, He chose the cup of suffering over an easier path, so that God’s will would be done (Luke 22:42). His obedience was a full commitment.
Mike’s obedience was lesser, but no less profound. He gave up his season of leisure that most people live their entire work life for, that time to kick back, play tennis or golf or bridge with the ladies.
"I still had a mind and I still had things I was capable of doing," he said.
What he is doing is this: Getting up at 5 a.m. to drive special-needs children to school. Every morning and afternoon, he is loading and unloading his bus with students who have had their long season of “school away from school, COVID style,” so they can get back to some semblance of normalcy. Whenever you set aside serving self for serving others, it is a sort of death…of self. That is the ultimate mind of Christ.
There used to be an advertising campaign, “I want to be like Mike”, promoting Michael Jordan as an example of excellence that should be embraced. Inferred is the notion that if you wear Mike’s basketball shoes you can be excellent like him. There’s nothing wrong with this branding if you keep in mind the campaign in proper prospective. They’re selling you shoes.
When it comes to Mike Mason, his example of service is his unspoken sell. As I see it, his pitch is this: You never retire from the mind of God. Humility and obedient selfless service are never optional requirements to any God-ordained job. No job is unimportant. Unretire and
"Drive like Mike."
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