Earthly Angels....

When I say the word Angel, what do you think of? A big beautiful winged being? A little cherub? Pure, perfect light maybe? There’s plenty of possibilities. A while ago I actually asked that question of several people I know and the response that most came up with was that Angels are heavenly beings but can also be people here on earth. I agree with them 100% and came across a story that a man posted online to inspire people to be “Earthly Angels”.

I was driving home from a meeting this evening at about five, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and my car started to choke, sputter, and die. I barely managed to coast (cursing) into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn’t even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the “quickie mart” building and it looked like she had perhaps slipped on some ice and fell, so I got out seeing if she was okay.
When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs and fallen. She was a young woman who looked really hazard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, I picked it up to give it to her...it was a nickel.
At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient suburban crammed full of stuff with three kids in the back (one in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she kept saying, “I don’t want my kids to see me crying.” So we stood on the other side of the pump from the car. She said she was driving to California and things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, “And you were praying?” That made her back away from me a little, but I assured I was not a crazy person and said, “He heard you, and He sent me.”
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was filling, walked next door to a McDonald’s and bought two big bags of food, some gift certificates for more and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left two months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn’t have money to pay rent January first and finally in desperation, called her parents with whom she had not spoken to in about five years. They lived in California and they said she could come live with them and try and get on her feet there.
So she packed everything that she owned in her car and told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves and a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my own car, she said, “So are you like an angel or something?”
This definitely made me cry. I said, “Sweetie, at this time of year Angels are really busy, so sometimes, G-d uses regular people.”
It was incredible to be a part of someone else’s divine intervention. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car; it started right away and got me home with no problems. I’ll put it in the shop tomorrow but I have a feeling they will find nothing wrong with it.

I have read and reread that story so many times since I came across it months ago. And still, every time, it brings tears to my eyes. I started out by mentioning Angels and while I do believe heavenly Angels are very real and do walk amongst us, I believe G-d instills in us, the ability to be Angels here on earth. I have heard so many people say, “What can I do? I am only one person.” “Things and people never change.” Truth be told, I have been one of those people. When you look at the mess that the world is in, it’s so easy to feel so small and incapable of change. But people don’t always seem to realize that it’s not always the big acts of change, sometimes it’s the small things. Like buying a struggling stranger some food and gas. Giving up your seat on the bus to someone that needs it more. My last blog talked about having faith and knowing that G-d has a plan and can see what will come. Did you even consider that a simple act of kindness could inspire others to do the same? When that man showed kindness to that woman, he could have been inspiring her or even one of her kids to someday do something bigger and better. Or maybe the simple act of writing down his experience is going to inspire the people that G-d is trying to reach out to right now to get up and do something. I believe that yes, humans are sinful by nature, BUT I also believe that human have good in them as well. Before sin came into the picture, we started out as good, G-dly beings. But G-d equipped us with the ability to make choices. It was the only way He could truly ask us to have faith in Him. I believe we ALL have good in our hearts. Some are just better at pushing the voice of G-d aside and choosing a different path. The evil that is destroying our world is not of G-d...it’s the work of the devil. He takes the very thing that we use to have faith in G-d and he uses it to cause as much chaos as possible. But just as we have a choice to listen to G-d, we have a choice in listening to the devil! The devil would love nothing more than to ruin would-be “Earthly Angels” and not allow G-d’s love and grace to spread. But we can put a stop to him! We can fight back! We can choose to love the way G-d asks us to. We can choose to show at least one kind act everyday...even if it’s as simple as opening a door or giving a kind smile to a stranger! Not every incredible earth changing events start with something or someone huge...sometimes they are small and simple things that a willing Earthly Angel did and that started a chain reaction that just grew and grew. Think about it people! The things we do and say everyday...things we may not even think twice about doing, could change something in the life of another person. I don’t know about you but that is very inspiring to me! Exciting even! So I leave you with a challenge. Keep a wide open eye on yourself and everything around you. Keep a smile on your face because that can inspire people to be more positive and have a better day. Be courteous to everyone you come across, cause that could inspire them to do the same. And most of all...never ever underestimate yourself. Because while I absolutely believe the small things count...G-d still places people on this earth that are capable of doing the big things as well. I don’t know that writing these blogs is earth shattering, but a few years ago, I would have never believed I had it in me. G-d can use us all in ways we can’t even imagine...but only if we choose to let Him. So maybe today is the day you will choose to step up.

G-d Bless!

K