Tales of The Grandfather: God Sends Angels
It was during the war. The Grandfather had been detained several times by the military, but thankfully he had always been released. The military conducted their operations in the zone, and The Grandfather conducted his operations as well. His work was the work of the church - to accompany the people and defend their human rights.
One day, The Grandfather went to a small town to check on his people. A military squad had arrived early, while it was still dark. The soldiers conducted their "operation" of knocking on doors, pulling people out of their homes, rummaging through people's belongings, tossing belongings into the street, and supposedly looking for weapons. It was "pure harassment," according to The Grandfather.
When The Grandfather arrived, soldiers detained him at the edge of town. The Grandfather tried to convince the soldiers that he had a right to be with the people because he was their pastor. The soldiers refused to let him pass. Suddenly a man on a horse appeared as if out of nowhere. He was riding fast up the road toward the town. The soldiers shot their weapons up into the air and rushed out to stop the rider. The horse reared back nearly tossing the rider to the ground. "Why are you riding so fast?" yelled the soldiers. "You cannot ride like that on this road."
The soldiers told the rider to get down so they could check his papers. In the meantime, The Grandfather spoke to the rider. "When you get back on your horse, don't do what they say. Don't go slowly. Ride as fast as you can down that side road beyond the far edge of town. Over the next hill there is an assembly of United Nations trucks. Tell the people of the United Nations exactly this: 'The Lutheran pastor sent me. The Lutheran pastor has urgent need of your presence in the next town over.' Do you understand?" asked The Grandfather. The horse rider said he understood.
When the soldiers came back, they told the rider he was free to go. The Grandfather was told to stay where he was. The rider rode off on the road to the far side of town.
The soldiers asked The Grandfather, "What were you talking to him [the horseman] about?"
"Oh," chuckled The Grandfather, "He is an old friend - a farmer from the region up the hill. I haven't seen him for a long time. We were just catching up on things." The soldiers continued their operation of harassment, while The Grandfather was kept outside of town.
Not more than one hour later, a convoy of United Nations vehicles pulled into town from the far side. The military ceased its operation and left. "We received word that a Lutheran pastor needs our help," said the leader of the United Nations brigade.
"That's me," said The Grandfather.
The rider had disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. No one ever learned who he was or from where he came.
"God always sends angels when we need them," says The Grandfather, "Eh?" The Grandfather smiles and slaps my arm. I smile and agree.
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One day, The Grandfather went to a small town to check on his people. A military squad had arrived early, while it was still dark. The soldiers conducted their "operation" of knocking on doors, pulling people out of their homes, rummaging through people's belongings, tossing belongings into the street, and supposedly looking for weapons. It was "pure harassment," according to The Grandfather.
When The Grandfather arrived, soldiers detained him at the edge of town. The Grandfather tried to convince the soldiers that he had a right to be with the people because he was their pastor. The soldiers refused to let him pass. Suddenly a man on a horse appeared as if out of nowhere. He was riding fast up the road toward the town. The soldiers shot their weapons up into the air and rushed out to stop the rider. The horse reared back nearly tossing the rider to the ground. "Why are you riding so fast?" yelled the soldiers. "You cannot ride like that on this road."
The soldiers told the rider to get down so they could check his papers. In the meantime, The Grandfather spoke to the rider. "When you get back on your horse, don't do what they say. Don't go slowly. Ride as fast as you can down that side road beyond the far edge of town. Over the next hill there is an assembly of United Nations trucks. Tell the people of the United Nations exactly this: 'The Lutheran pastor sent me. The Lutheran pastor has urgent need of your presence in the next town over.' Do you understand?" asked The Grandfather. The horse rider said he understood.
When the soldiers came back, they told the rider he was free to go. The Grandfather was told to stay where he was. The rider rode off on the road to the far side of town.
The soldiers asked The Grandfather, "What were you talking to him [the horseman] about?"
"Oh," chuckled The Grandfather, "He is an old friend - a farmer from the region up the hill. I haven't seen him for a long time. We were just catching up on things." The soldiers continued their operation of harassment, while The Grandfather was kept outside of town.
Not more than one hour later, a convoy of United Nations vehicles pulled into town from the far side. The military ceased its operation and left. "We received word that a Lutheran pastor needs our help," said the leader of the United Nations brigade.
"That's me," said The Grandfather.
The rider had disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. No one ever learned who he was or from where he came.
"God always sends angels when we need them," says The Grandfather, "Eh?" The Grandfather smiles and slaps my arm. I smile and agree.
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
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no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
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For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
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they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91
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