“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

(Hebrews 13:2)

  I broke one of my cardinal rules last week and the scary part is that I do not even feel guilty about it. You see, I worked in downtown Atlanta for thirty years and it was almost impossible to leave any building without being approached by one of the “urban dwellers.” Well, in my most humanistic mind I try to avoid these people at all costs using one or more of the below methods: 1) avoid eye contact 2) cross to the other side of the sidewalk or street 3) talk to any other human being about the weather or something until you get past them 4) put ipod headphones in my ears so I can avoid hearing anything 5) pretend to not speak English.

  As a side note, a recent Bible study at church has been on angels and as another coincidence, the above scripture was part of a study that past week. I think that God was just setting me up to teach me a lesson … and was probably quite amused by it.

  Now, back to last week. I was walking in one of the big box stores when a man approached me (dadgum, no iPod® available) and asked me the time. I gave it to him and then he asked me if I had any friends of his particular ethnic background. I answered ‘yes’ (while continuing to walk) and he said his car had been towed and he needed taxi or Uber fare to the impound lot for he and his wife. He gave me the correct dollar and cent amount. In that split second, my mind flashed back to my Sunday School and the purposes and ways of angels and the verse in Hebrews slammed into my brain like a train.

  Without a second thought, I pulled out my wallet and handed the guy what he asked for, plus a few extra dollars since I did not have the correct change (go figure … that’s probably when God chuckled). And, most amazing of all, the man thanked me in God’s name, and I left the building whistling Christmas carols. For at least this one time, I listened to my heart (meaning God) and not my head (meaning my pride and selfishness). And for this one time, I was blessed probably more than the man to whom I gave the money. Did he really use it for getting to his car? I do not know. Did he use it to buy a burger, beer, or some type of drugs? I do not know. But I do know that I gave him the money with God’s purpose in mind, so in some way He will be glorified. I am a better person tonight. I still have my ipod® close at hand and still know plenty of phrases in Spanish, German, and Jimmy-ese, but I do know that I will be more receptive to the language of God in the coming days. As it is written, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

 And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.

  Jimmy Cochran is a resident of McDonough, a musician, a minister and the author of Being God’s and Staying God’s, both available at Amazon.com. Being God’s is also available at Moye’s Pharmacy in McDonough.