GUIDING ANGELS
Angels find us, not only when we need
them the most, but even when we think we are
fine on own
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STRANGER ON THE STREET
Oh, I felt good about myself. I was so pleased with what a
nice, kind, thoughtful person i was. I'd just spent hours
laboring away at volunteer tasks, giving my time to help
others. I'd helped take care of patients in a nursing home,
reading letters to them, chatting with them.My head was
full of self-congratulations. I was feeling incredibly virtuous,
wonderfully delighted with myself, absolutely supior to
lesser folks who were too selfish and preoccupied to reach
out to rhose in need.
Fully absorbed in myself,I scarcely noticed the grubby
stranger heading my way. He aimed straight at me as if i
was the only personout on the streets that day. when i
suddenly noticed him, I braced myself. Uh-oh. I could see
his filthy clothes, torn and stained. Clearly he'd spent
months on the streets, perhaps living in doorways or
beneith bridges, huddled in boxes or wrapped in news-
papers for warmth.
I dreaded the confortation. Being approached by homeless
people made feel immensely uncormfortable. If I gave
someone cash, it might be used badly. Besides, I didnt have
much money myself. Every penny counted. In fact, I was
walking home to save bus fare. With the coins i saved, I
could buy myself a little treat, maybe an ice-cream cone. I'd
earned a treat. I deserved it.
As the stranger approached, I tensed. It was my money,
after all. I worked hardto earn it. I had the right to keep what
I'd earned. I had the right to spend it the way i wanted. I
shouldn't be expected to give away my hard earned cash!
Braced and tense, I watched as he drew near.
"Can you spare a few cents?" he asked, his hand extened.
I drew back without actually moving. I thought of the
money in my purse. So little of it. And it was mine, all
mine.
I opened my mouth to make excuses, to tell him I didn't
have any money, to lie and brush him away. His eyes pierced
mine as i spoke, and I found myself telling him the truth, or
at least part of it.
"I done have much money. Nothing to spare," I told him. In
a way, it was true. But those eyes pierced right through me.
"I understand" he told me, his voice deep and steady. And I
thought he did understand. Exactly. I thought he saw right
through me, into my greedy spirit. I thought he knew
somehow just how much money i carried and what i
planned on doing with it. He seemed to see into my heart and
hear the echo of my childesh desires. It was my money. I
didnt want to share. Why should I? I wanted it for myself.
Still holding my gaze, he said, "I havent always been as
you see me now," and then he walked away, back straight,
dignified in his ragged clothes. He passed behind me, and I
stood, stricken and bereft, ashamed of myself.
How could i be so selfesh, so unkind? Even with so little
cash, I could share what i had. I could treat us both to some
small treat. We could go together to a near by snack bar. My
money would surely stretch for both of us.
I whirled to call him back, but he was gone. In those
moments when i was feeling shame for having been selfish,
he'd disappeared.
I never saw him again. but at that moment, staring down
an empty sidewalk, I knew. That homeless stranger in his
bedraggled clothing had known i wasn't as good and kind
and thoughtful as I liked to think i was. He'd known the
hidden selfishness in me. He'd known me.
And suddenly I knew him. He'd given me a clue, hadnt he?
He'd told me he hadn't always been as I saw him then.
And I thought of the words in the Bible that urged hospital-
ity to strangers because you never know when you might be
entertaining an angel.
I thought about those moments for a long time. I rehearsed
what i should have told him, what i wish i'd said. I prac-
ticed conversations in case he returned to give me another
chance. I searched for his face on my walks from then on.
But he didn't return. I guess he'd done what he meant to do
He'd taught me a valuable lesson about myself and others
He'd taught me not to think so highly of myself, not to feel.
so pleased with me. And he taught me not to judge others
too easily.
Behind the next stranger in rags there might lurk an angel
in disguise.
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Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some
people have entertained angels without knowing it.
-Hebrews 12:2
