value isn't all about financial cost or "The Ticket of Great Value"

Last week while in Ukraine, my friend Ruslan and I went to buy a train ticket from a suburb of Kyiv to Vinnytsya. We arrived at about 0825 and there were about seven people in line in front of us. There is a custom I have observed in Ukrainian lines... saving places. The day before we waited for about fifteen minutes to watch the woman close the window because the work day was over. While in that line, a girl asked someone behind us to save her spot. They did. To no avail, none of us in that part of the line got a ticket. So next morning, we're back at it. So we get in line and there are two windows at this train station the one below for long distance tickets... then there is another one across the hall (behind the line) at which NO ONE waited. She was reading her magazine because she had no customers. It was Friday you see and lots of folks are travelling. So we waited...

and waited...

and people began to arrive who were not what you might call patient. Ruslan and i had a good conversation while in line... and while we waited I noticed those who have made an art of "cutting in line." They would go over to the timetable (next to the ticket window) and then sort of hang out and wait for their chance (an unsuspecting slow mover in line perhaps) and then they would make their move. Another strategy seems to be going up to someone and starting a conversation and then acting like you have been with them all along... one woman did this and then when she finally got her turn and was ordering her tickets, her phone rang and she told the agent to 'never mind' - - - 'STOP' she says and then she bolts away, (huge groans erupt from the crowd behind her). Oh, by this time it is no loner a line, it is a crowd.

Behind us was this one woman who appointed her self as the one to yell at everybody who tried to practice the "art of line cutting." By now it is after 0900 and there were a bunch of people trying to catch a 0930 to somewhere so when one guys busts in the agent (she's safe behind bars and glass) says she will sell tickets to those catching that 0930 train to where-ever... well, this sat well with no one, some more shouting and a bit of shoving but those people who were lurking on the left, looking for their chance, jumped to the opportunity and in front they went... 'yelling lady' let loose big time and I saw the woman in the window pick up her phone and call someone. 'Great', I thought, 'here come the cops.' But no, the station manager came out and joined the shouting. He sort of calmed them down, but not really. By now we are almost there, two more people to go! and then finally, we get up there and find out the only ticket available is on the "Train of Increased Comfort" (sorry, I didn't get a pic) so, I took it with no expectations of conditions. I know what I've gotten myself into. SO I pay the 11 hrivnas and 14 kopecs ($2.24) for the three and a half hour train ride. Yes, I said $2.24. Yes, for 3.5 hours fast train. (It's about 300 km or so from Kyiv to Vinn.)

The ticket price does not reflect the time standing in the line... and this is my point. My friend is a really busy guy who has really important stuff to do. But he invested about an hour in line in getting me to a place that benefits him not. Therein lies the value of the ticket... the sacrifice of a friend. Here it is... we took a picture of it...

A "ticket of great value" for "the train of increased comfort."

Oh, I found out later that the 'increased comfort' is not from the physical comfort (there was little of that) but the fact that you have a reserved seat. I will save the train ride itself for another post. Oh, when I got to Vinnytsya, we bought my ticket for the next day's return train. It took five minutes.

Thanks Ruslan, you proved your friendship and lived Jesus for me.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13