The gleaming train pulled alongside the crowded platform without fanfare or much noise. It was not large, consisting of an engine, tender, flatcar, and several passenger cars painted in a subdued red.
An average-looking figure stepped out from the front of the lead passenger car onto the flatcar. He carried a bullhorn and strode straight until he arrived at the center of his makeshift stage, where he turned and faced the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this train is the Kingdom train. All of you, any who want to, are welcome to board.”
Most people on the platform ignored the speaker and kept going about their day. Some, however, listened with curious expressions on their faces.
A small group of men and women opened the doors of the passenger cars at the figure’s last word. Several of them stepped onto the platform and circulated among the waiting people. They urged others to get on the train and answered questions, pointing towards the trains. Others could helped the few who took the invitation onto the train, holding bags and giving directions. After a suitable time, the men and women from the train climbed back up from the platform.
Their company had grown by five individuals, all standing in a small foyer in the lead passenger car. They were all from among those who had been curious. Each of them was undistinguished, and each had the perplexed look of awakened sleepwalkers on their faces.
“Welcome to the Kingdom train,” a voice boomed from the front of the car.
The new arrivals looked up to see the figure who had addressed the crowd with the bullhorn striding toward them.
“This train is a special but is not an express. We will stop at every platform and encourage all who will to join us. Your destination is assured and your task is to help those who listen to my call get onto the train and join us as the train moves towards its destination.”
One of the curious people who had gotten on the train turned back, stepped down to the platform, and was soon lost in the crowd. She felt foolish for a few moments but soon forgot the episode entirely.
Another followed the first, but instead of blending into the crowd, he began to search for spare train parts and encouraged others on the platform to help build a train to make their own way to the Kingdom. Rumor has it that they are still working hard but haven’t made much progress.
A third heard the speech, gave a triumphant “Whoop!” and immediately sat on one of the seats. Shortly before falling asleep, he asked a fellow passenger to wake him in time for the next speech at the subsequent stop. He wanted to listen to it again.
One of the two remaining new passengers listened intently. As the train began to chug away from the platform, she went to the back, where there was a treadmill, hopped on, and started jogging in place as the train moved with her. Through labored breaths, she explained that the train needed all her effort on the treadmill to reach its destination.
The last new person heard the speech and, turning to the woman who had answered his questions on the platform and the man who had helped him onto the train, said, “Before we get to the next stop, can you teach me how to help others get onto the train?” They smiled and answered, each in their own way: “We would be honored to teach you. And, when we get there, we will also show you.”
The train, meanwhile, kept going, rolling over the shiny tracks and heading for the next stop.