Living in Atlanta we are surrounded by people - rich, middle, poor, homeless, we see it all as long as we don’t have our eyes closed! And at some point or another we are approached by people whether it’s to further us or to ask for some spare change.
The other night around 2am I was taking the long way home and stopped by the store to pick up some kitty food and gatorade when I a man called me from across the parking lot... now most of the time I keep walking forward and say sorry because for the most part I’m trying to get by on what I have, but a thought crossed my mind. Now, I’m not a big religious person, but I believe there’s something out there and you should do right by yourself and what your own morals are than to believe a book that’s been rewritten a 1000 times. Somewhere in high school during youth group we were talking about strangers and how we treated people. I remember Mrs. P. saying “You never know who is watching or taking you in, you might be talking to Jesus, so be nice to everyone.” I guess that night as I was walking in something spoke to me, so at a distance I stopped and looked at him. He asked if he could wash my wheels and clean my windows for money or some food and started telling me what was going on in his life, in which I stopped him. I looked him in the eye and said “I don’t care why you’re out here, but you want food, is that right?” He said yes and I told him I would get him something when I was inside.
At first I thought I would just get him granola bars but then thought no I’m going to do this right, because if I had enough in me to ask for food I would hope someone would treat me good. So, I got what I came in for and then picked him up a gatorade, a can of peaches, sandwich buns, chicken, turkey, ham, and a small box of chewy bars. I then went to the deli section and picked up some utensils and condiments put everything in a bag and for $7 dollars (the price of one drink at the bar) I fed a man. I went back out to the parking lot and handed him it to him and as he fist bumped me, I felt whole... that I had done something for someone and as much as he needed something, I needed to feel something. In someways it was selfless but all in all I did what my youth teacher told me to, I treated someone not only the way I would want to but in a way that would hopefully make a high power happy.
Random or not you never know who is watching or taking you in, be who you set out to be.
Hebrews 13:2 - Don't forget to love and entertain strangers, for in doing so, some have been surrounded by angels without knowing it.
