YOU Are An Angel

I remember Bible stories that tell of amazing ways that God spoke to people – Moses and the burning bush,  a pilar of fire,  angels to the shepherds, Mary, Jesus’s mother, wrestling with Jacob, vivid dreams like those of Joseph and the ones he interpreted for others and through God’s audible voice when spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus and to Samuel among others.

But what about us today? We may feel God doesn’t speak to us because we might not experience these dramatic encounters of Bible times.  The truth of the matter is that while I might be looking for the neon sign bearing God’s message to me, in reality, in comes in ways I can gloss over or miss completely.

I am a cyclist and a hiker. Time on my bike or trails quiets my mind and ideas for my writing sometimes flow so quickly I need to stop and write things down. Other times, I’ve found myself coming up with new ways of thinking about something I’ve been worrying about. I might attribute it to my quiet mind, but in reality, I think I’ve given space and time to listening to what God is saying to me that I often keep barricaded outside my thought process because of the busyness of my schedule and how I allow my mind to whir!

This brings me to another thought. God uses his people to share His messages of encouragement, guidance or plan. In Bible times, we have evidence that God spoke through the prophets and brought His words and commands through people. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had experiences where I’ve met someone by chance who has either said something or provided something I needed whether a word or encouragement and idea or a resource without having any prior knowledge of my need for it. Sometimes these encounters are with friends, but sometimes they are with strangers.

I remember being in line to go through security at an airport and chatting with a woman in front of me. We talked about why we were in the location we were in. She on business, and me on a little getaway to do some writing. I explained it was a hobby I wanted to turn into something more. At that point we were shuffled through different scanner lines with our bags in this busy airport. I was surprised to run into her as she was finishing putting her on her shoes. She looked up and said, "I think you should write about something personal – about your life or something that you learned from". I’d never told her I was writing a book about raising a child with special needs. A lump grew in my throat and tears stung my eyes.

This week, my son Alex and I were in the park following a fitness trail that we try to do with regularity. It has exercise stops along the route. As a walker and wheelchair user, Alex is able to use the exercises on his trail in a variety of ways to build strength and maintain mobility. As we approached the last station, the chin up bar and Alex’s most challenging station, we saw a young man about Alex’s age with very developed arm muscles doing lots of chin up – with apparent ease.

As Alex wheeled up and got into position, the stranger asked Alex with excitement, “You going to do some sets, bro?”. Alex said yes and pushed himself up to stand and hold the bar. This new acquaintance began telling a story about his friend with cerebral palsy, asked questions about Alex and launched into thought after thought to encourage Alex not only on his fitness journey, but his life. “I can see you are like my friend, you don’t let your situation define you. He provided support Alex needed, including a bit of physical support, holding him up from behind, to help him complete more pull ups than he’d ever done.

As we finished, fist bumps happened all around, a little small talk about how often we each come to the area and the final “tell me your name” question to Alex. Alex replied and then asked his new friend’s name. “Angel” was the reply. As we pulled away, Alex and I looked at each other. I smiled and Alex said, “I know, Mom”.  

These two examples feel like WOWs. They feel like miracles or a modern-day burning bush. I’d like to think about these encounters beyond the WOW for a minute. If these angels are put in our lives, if they bring God’s message to us, couldn’t God use US to share His message to someone else?  Further, are the thoughts that flood my mind on a bike ride or hike be God sending words, thoughts, ideas and support in ways that are less WOW and part of our every day life? Of course! Am I watching for them, though? Am I responding as if I recognize it is God speaking?

Alex’s Angel could have finished his sets at the pull up bar and moved on. But he didn’t. He took the time to encourage and support. The woman at the airport could have nodded and smiled as we parted ways to go to our gates. But she took a risk to say something that I feel she was nudged to say.

The question becomes bigger.  Do we look for, listen and make ourselves aware of the many ways God lets us know he hears us or guides us or shows us his love for us? And beyond listening for God in our own lives, do we open ourselves us to the nudgings we feel to help, reach out to or say something to someone that may feel unexpected? Do we see ourselves as partners in God’s work – an essential piece to spread the love of God and the things God sees others’ need?  Do we pray that God will choose us and use us to reveal God’s glory, his faithfulness and unending love for all his precious children? I hope so. So does God, I’m sure. Or do we let fear or our own busyness or an unwillingness to talk or listen to someone different than us get in the way of a truly holy connection.