Are You a Cynic?

         My Mother had often instructed me to never talk to strangers. It was just something that was not safe to do. That may have begun a series of feelings toward those to whom you have no knowledge. They are strangers simply because you don't know them. You know nothing about them, where they came from, to whom they are married or not married, their education nor their likes nor dislikes. My “fear of strangers” has progressed through the years as I now regard my home as my castle and often feel as if I have pulled up the drawbridge and sealed the entrance so no strangers can disturb my comfort zone. Recently, the door bell rang and I went to see who it was. I opened the door and there stood a man in an athletic shirt, who had not shaved for a couple of days, in fifty degree weather with a grin on his face and holding a bag of Schwans Frozen Fruit. I was cautious and figured he was not from a “cult” group but thought there must be something strange about this whole situation. I still had a tight grip on the partially open door, ready to retreat at the first sound of trouble. I think I asked him, “What do you want?” He replied, “I want to give you this fruit.” Now, why does a stranger want to give me a bag of semi frozen fruit?” Then he says, “Oh, I am your neighbor from a couple of houses down the street.” Then it dawned on me who this person was with all of the tattoos that stood in front of me. He wasn't a stranger after all, he was the man who had carried a heavy box into our home that had been mistakenly left at his door by FedEx. Matthew 25:35 says, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:"

           The man, in his simple gesture had taught me a lesson that I am not going to soon forget. I have become cynical of most things that go on in the world including a neighbor that I had never met. I have come to the conclusion that there are not many things that I trust. I don't trust the news anymore, I don't trust the politician and I don't trust most preachers feeling that most have their own agenda and are only concerned with we used to call, "nickles and noses" which amounts to "what was your offering and how many people did you have last Sunday?" This was the usual conversation at one of the minister meetings I found myself attending. Being a cynic is not a good characteristic on one who is supposed to be sharing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lessons are found at various points in the Bible of those who have helped the "stranger" with some of their needs inclusing the story of the Good Samaritan. In the New Testament era, many of the Israelites hated the Samaritans yet he is the only one who helped the stranger in need who was battered and bleeding on the side of the road. How are we going to tell someone about the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ if we never gain the respect of the "stranger?" In my defense, I could say that the property down the street is a "rental" and had recently become the resident of my new friend from Trinidad. I guess he is my friend now, because I have his bag of fruit in my refrigerator. God often teaches us lessons even when we least expect it. My mother said to not talk to strangers, but God says, entertain the stranger. It is easy to become a cynic in these days but it doesn't have to be that way. Praise God today that to Him, there are no strangers. He knows all there is to know about each and every one of us.