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Blog 490 – 12.09.2016
Angels Unawares

Today’s two word title comes from a relatively obscure New Testament verse that says, “Many have entertained angels unawares.” The first time that I read the verse I confess that I thought of angel’s underwear. They did not have Victoria’s Secret in those days but they did have Fredericks of Hollywood and something along those lines is what I envisioned, perhaps more Charlies Angels that celestial.

We do not hear as much about angels these days, though perhaps I am no longer running in the right circles for angel talk. Most of the construction guys I work with still think in terms of Charlies Angels and their heavenly under garments. People used to talk of guardian angels watching over children and each of us really. A friend of mine posted on Social Media this morning an embarrassing incident and said that she needed a keeper. I responded, don’t we all and quoted another poet David who wrote that he had two angel’s following him everywhere. He even referred to them by name as Goodness and Mercy. With my skewed view the thought that came to me was that I wondered if that was perhaps why when we do something stupid that we often say things like, “Oh, my Goodness.” or “Mercy.” Hey, it made sense to me.

I have posted the picture of the frustrated guardian angel before and I am sure we have all given any guardians assigned to us a run for their money more than once. Do you suppose guardian angels draw a salary? I am sure if they do that like the rest of us that they consider themselves underpaid and overworked. Not me, I have a great gig. I get paid for watching other people work, sort of an inspecting angel position.

But back to this entertaining angels unawares thing. The context of the verse is about not neglecting hospitality to strangers because in being kind to strangers many have entertained angels. I think we’d see a vast improvement in our treatment of our unknown brothers if we all started treating strangers like the angels they truly are. I remember another verse about angels.  I did study to be a Christian minister once. That truly was another life. But that verse I recall says, ” He makes his angels ministering spirits.” Not necessarily the type of minister I trained to be but a helper not a pastor or a preacher though hopefully many of them do a little helping too. I guess what I am trying to say is what an older gentleman in the little church I went to as a boy and young man sang every time they would let him sing the solo before the Sunday morning sermon. He sang, “If I can help somebody along life’s way, then my living shall not be in vain.” He helped me so that particular angel gets at least one big “Mission Accomplished.”

Many of us all too often act like a, “Fallen Angel” or an “Undercover Angel” (I love that song, “Undercover Angel, midnight fantasy, I never had a dream that made sweet love to me.” I guess it is no mystery after the angel’s underwear comment and the Undercover Angel quote why I never made it in the Christian ministry.) But nevertheless we all like the Blues Brothers are on a mission from God and are His angels. It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it and nobody can do what was assigned for you to do except you. As I said earlier I have a great gig, I get paid to watch other people work and to offer an encouraging word from time to time, sort of like a cheerleader, “Go Angels.”

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White