On entertaining angels unawares

I confess that I often focus on a verse in Hebrews that says, "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners." And I often overlook the verse just ahead of it: "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it."

I was reminded of that as I sat with my cup of coffee on this Monday morning, reflecting on the weekend.

Mark is a New York businessman, arguably wrongly convicted, who resides in a nearby prison. In his email message to me, he shared that his daughter, a college student in Oregon, was coming to Muskegon for a visit. It would be their first in 3 years.

That may not seem like a big deal, except that there are no prison visiting hours on Saturday. This means that Kelsey would be able to visit her dad late Friday after her arrival, all day Sunday, and on Monday before her departure. Saturday would be spent in a hotel room.

That seemed wrong, especially when one factors in perfect weather conditions and the spring beauty of our area of western Michigan.

I could think of no better people to contact than daughter Cindy and her husband Lee. After all, the Ingersolls provided the warm hospitality in their beautiful home for Maurice Carter on his first days of freedom. It was the bed in their guest room that prompted Maurice to describe his first night of rest "like sleeping on a cloud."

Well, I was able to provide some of the transportation for Kelsey. Having a friend take you from point A to point B is so much nicer than relying on a paid taxi driver. And Cindy and Lee responded in true Ingersoll fashion: hamburgers cooked on the grille, a stroll on Grand Haven's popular south pier, and dipping bare feet in the icy, clear waters of Lake Michigan.

Kelsey now has good friends in Michigan, we have a new friend in Portland, and Mark has a taste of Dutch hospitality.

Actual response to BOTH Hebrews passages.

Comments

reginag said…
A marvelous story. I learn a lot of good morals.
phoenix dui lawyer
May 23, 2012 at 8:18 AM
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