A Warrior's Virtue -- Or, in other words, I'm pulling through somehow

[UberScout]

In lieu of creatively writing the crap out of my IRL adventures, I'll just keep this simple.

The day before yesterday, I had another falling out with both my parents, all because I was having absolutely no luck panhandling at gas stations, not that I even wanted to in the first place, of course. My stepfather (read: the one I refer to as "Charles") was having one of his World Famous Days of Absolute Pure Bleeping Craziness, and my mother, bless her heart, she was so exasperated from it all... I just decided I couldn't take it anymore, so I kept walking. Eventually I ended up at Waffle House, where a very kind man bought me a meal there, and even went back to the ATM across the street, came back and handed me $100...

.....JUST enough to cover a single night in the KOA Kampground. I only had enough money for their smallest cabins, but it was fine just for a night. The lady working the counter there was so sweet as well; they didn't take cash payments, only card payments, but after she heard about my situation, she agreed to charge the night's stay to her own credit card! Just so I could have somewhere warm that night. I had to check out early this morning, but once again, as I was walking I eventually ended up sitting at a Publix, and after a brief chat with an employee, something absolutely blessed happened: he and three other employees working there all came together and paid for a room at Holiday Inn Express for me! Again, it's only for tonight, but it's colder than Jack Frost's armpits where I am, and it was raining/sleeting to boot, and I don't know about you guys but I hear Pneumonia is not a comfortable way to die, and I'd rather not, so... praisethelordamen and all that. (No, seriously, I do honestly feel blessed by God, I'm just exhausted.)

So yes, I'm alive, and slowly but surely my faith is trickling back.


You know, if I'm being brutally honest with myself, all this I'm going through each day would make for a... really, really interesting text adventure. I think my old Z-Machine is laying around somewhere...

 

[FayetheADHDsquirrel]

I am glad that you were provided a place to stay overnight especially with the weather you described. I hope the rest of your family was able to get a place out of the weather as well.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I'm glad you are safe at least for one night. That is enough for now. Tensions run high during these holidays, but also good will and a spirit of giving.

I have also walked out at night into the snow and freezing cold with no resources and in what was then called a dangerous neighborhood. I was also given shelter by angels.

I wish you the best for the next day and the day after that. Maybe things will settle down at home.

 

[UberScout]

I was also given shelter by angels.

Eh? Like, actual angels? I know that term is more a colloquial description of someone making the decision to help someone else in a major way out of their own free will, but even my parents are able to recall stories of actual divine beings saving them from an uncertain demise.

 

[Outdated]

Merry Christmas UberScout. I'm glad you're safe and warm even if it's only for a little while.

 

[Jumpinbare]

Eh? Like, actual angels? I know that term is more a colloquial description of someone making the decision to help someone else in a major way out of their own free will, but even my parents are able to recall stories of actual divine beings saving them from an uncertain demise.

Interestingly, the hebrew word for angel meant one who is sent. In that context, a human can fill that role as well as a divine being.

 

[Mary Terry]

Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

 

[UberScout]

Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

Oh don't you worry, I still have that in the back of my mind for whenever it's time to do so.

 

[Jumpinbare]

Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

When I first read that as a teenager, I thought it was really cool, and even now I wouldn't dispute that it is, but one day I realized that angelic beings really don't need our help. Fellow humans, on the other hand, often do. Helping our fellow humans, particularly strangers who wouldn't expect us to help, is far more wonderful than helping angels who really don't need it.
And if the cool factor is important to anyone, Jesus said when we do something for the least of fellow humans, we have done it unto Him! He doesn't need our help either, but the coolness factor is off the chart!

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

When I first read that as a teenager, I thought it was really cool, and even now I wouldn't dispute that it is, but one day I realized that angelic beings really don't need our help. Fellow humans, on the other hand, often do. Helping our fellow humans, particularly strangers who wouldn't expect us to help, is far more wonderful than helping angels who really don't need it.
And if the cool factor is important to anyone, Jesus said when we do something for the least of fellow humans, we have done it unto Him! He doesn't need our help either, but the coolness factor is off the chart!

As a child, I was puzzled by these stories or parables. The meaning finally broke through after long study and questions regarding the actions of the Good Samaritan. I realized I had finally embodied that lesson as I knelt holding the bloody hand of an accident victim on the side of the Interstate Highway on New Years morning.

I didn't have to stop. It was cold. She was bleeding and it was in the middle of the HIV crisis. And none of that mattered to me. Just helping her until EMS arrived.

Those are the times I can feel Spirit moving through me.