When I was about 10 years old, we lived close to town in an older home that Daddy remodeled. Right across the street was a railroad track. It was a nice house that we really loved, but it took some time for us to get used to the frequent explosive noises made by short passenger and long freight trains rushing by, always rattling windows while blasting “foghorn” warnings. After a while, we didn’t even notice them at all.
One night, Mother, Daddy, David and Debbie had gone to bed leaving me the only one still awake watching tv. Given my natural, lifelong inability to sleep until well after midnight, it wasn’t an unusual scenario.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find a raggedy looking man who I promptly invited in telling him to wait while I got my parents. I ran into Mother and Daddy’s bedroom happily and loudly announcing, “ROGER’S HERE!!!!”
They were both shocked and quickly put on their robes to see a total stranger standing in our living room. They had no idea what was going on, but they’d clearly understood what I’d said. They didn’t know anyone named Roger who would be visiting that late at night, so it was a little upsetting, I’m sure.
Roger told them he was hungry. Mother always had leftovers from our supper, so she immediately went to the kitchen and started warming a plate for him. Daddy sat in the living room chatting with him and, then, they all sat at the table and talked while he ate.
After he had eaten and gotten warmed up, he thanked my parents profusely and left. They didn’t scold me for what had just happened, but they did have a talk with me about how dangerous that could have been, and they told me never to do anything like that again.
Looking back, I’m convinced he must have been a hobo who hopped off the train, saw our lights on, and took a chance.
It’s possible he was nothing more than a worthless bum who took advantage of strangers too kind and polite to turn him away.
I like to think he was a down-on-his-luck, starving, good person faced with no choice but to beg. I also like to imagine he was hoboing needing to get to his family and, sans any other options, he hopped a freight train to get as far as he could.
Whatever nudged the desperate man at just the right moment to jump from the train, he found a precious mom and dad willing to feed him, treat him better than he appeared to deserve, and maybe give him a little hope.
Whatever he was, I KNOW it was a night of Divine protection from potential danger OR a true Godwink that took care of a stranger while my parents earned future blessings for their kindness and generosity.
I have to say, though, the potential danger went both ways. When Daddy scrambled to get into his robe to greet a total stranger in his house,, he tucked his pistol in his pocket.
