"He shall give his angels charge over you." Luke 4:10
On Sept. 18, 2008, ABC News reported that over half of Americans believed they'd been watched over at one time or another by a guardian angel, and this included 1/5 of those who say they are not religious (though 92% of Americans believe in God, according to a June 2008 poll). And my own family has encountered a few--including one last Friday.
Last Friday afternoon I discovered that my passport had been stolen, and we were due to fly back to Xiamen the very next morning! Af 3:10 p.m. I phoned the U.S. Consulate on Hong Kong and was told to come in Monday, since I could not get a visa on the weekend. When I explained I did not need a visa for China, they said come in by 4 p.m.--but I was at least 90 minutes away by MTR (subway/train), on the very outskirts of the New Territories, near the border. It was hopeless, but I raced for the MTR anyway--my heart racing faster than my feet.
As I was about to enter the MTR station, a well dressed Chinese gentlemen who spoke excellent English was standing by the entrance, as if waiting, and he asked where I was going. I told him, and he said "I just happen to be going to the same destination. Wait two minutes while I get an MTR card and I'll take you."
With only 50 minutes for a trip that had taken 90 minutes two days earlier, I could not spare two minutes! I said, "That's okay," I know how to get there." But he was insistent. "I know a faster way," he said. "Just wait for me."
Well, it was already impossible, so what was another two minutes. But the man did indeed know a shortcut! He used part of the Hong Kong Disneyland line, stayed with me to the end of the line, and I ran in the Consulate at exactly 4 p.m.--to their surprise as much as mine!
During the trip I told my new friend what had happened. He said, "I don't know much about passports and Visas [which was odd, because he told me the many places he'd been], but for now you can't do anything about it, so just relax and enjoy the ride." I laughed, and told him, "You're my guardian angel today!" He just smiled.
Express Americans When I ran into the U.S. Consulate at 4 p.m.., they said I needed passport photos! I raced across the street to a photo kiosk, returned with the photos--and at 5 p.m. I was given my new one-year temporary passport!
I've heard a lot about American Express, but it was the first time I'd seen Express Americans.
I experienced 3 miracles within two hours:
1) I'd have not even noticed the passport was missing had I not gone to the bank to withdraw funds (I've done this in Hong Kong only half a dozen times in 20+years).
2) In almost 30 years of coming and going in Hong Kong, no one has ever helped me like this man. He did not just offer help but insisted I take it--but first told me to "wait a couple minutes" even when he knew I was so pressed for time. I obeyed, and by sowing two minutes I saved forty, and made it to the consulate on the dot.
3) The officials at the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong were a godsend! The cashier was closing when I walked in, so they had me do the procedures out of order to be sure they were completed. Of course, Hong Kong U.S. Consulate staff are always courteous and efficient, but who has ever heard of a one hour U.S. passport?!
Why Me? I have never lost a passport before, and I was absolutely shocked. I envisioned waiting in Hong Kong several more days while Sue flew home alone, and having to spend a fortune for a room and a new flight (our budget flight could not be changed or canceled). But by 5 p.m. I was marveling at all that had happened in two hours. So why did my Father let it happen in the first place?
The Lesson. I am careful to the point of paranoia with my wallet and passport, and yet in spite of my caution (walking with my hands literally planted over my pockets), I was pickpocketed. But who knows how many times a day we are shielded from problems, perhaps even disasters? Perhaps I was taking things for granted, or trusting too much in my own caution. But after the one hour passport ordeal, I will not only be even more careful but also not take for granted the promise that "He shall give his angels charge over you."
Of course, it seems like I've already had this lesson a few times. I could write a book on just my failures, and my Father's miraculous interventions to fix them. (Maybe entitle it "My Leastmost for his Highest). A few years ago a Chinese professor complained he'd had 4 bicycles stolen in one year and I told him that I'd been riding the same bicycle for ten years. "Wow! That's a record!" he said. "You're so lucky!" I laughed, but I should have given thanks instead. I left the Chinese professor to get my bicycle--only to find it had been stolen while I was talking to him! My Father is not only patient but has a good sense of humor and timing.
A big thank you to my passport angel on the Hong Kong MTR, to the whole team of passport angels at the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong--and to my Father for bringing it all together. I hope that I'm not just repeating the same lesson but also learning a little as I go.
HELP! I'm surprised by how many people e-mailed me about this to share their own "angel" stories!" Frankly, I'm generally quite skeptical about such things (especially when people emphasize the angels more than the One who sends them), but this one has sure surprised me, especially after the letter from the folks in Florida, which I wrote about in the "Comments" below. Please share your own story of Fatherly intervention, whether you think it was an angel or not, in the comment section below. Thanks! Dr. Bill
Related: Touched by an Angel or by God?
Link: ABC News Report on Angels
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Truly amazing:0) Wow! is all I can say. May I share your story with my class this week? What an encouragement to all of us!
ReplyDeleteAdrienne
Someone asked if I thought this was a "real" angel. Well...the guy was standing there like he was waiting for me, and he insisted on me going with him (and he was well traveled but knew nothing about passports?). Still... bottom line I think he was a man like me--but one whom my Father prepared to help me. But just as I was about to write this, I received a letter (a real letter, not e-mail, which is rare nowadays). It was from a very small group of a few dozen people in Florida, who have never written to me before, and they said they had a "vision" of an angel going from them to me to encourage and help me! What timing! In 20+ years here, no one has ever written anything remotely like this--and I get it the day after I write this blog about angels?
ReplyDeleteBut regardless of whether the man was an angel or not, he was an angel to me, and you and I can be angels to others. So look about, and see who you can help today!
Bill,
ReplyDeleteIt was an angel. We had one on our travels too (probably more than one, but this was obvious). In Bangkok we had a deadline to catch the transport boat back to the dock (to catch the sky train to our hotel) before the boats stopped running. I, miss know-it-all, told my traveling partners, "let's hop on this boat", as it was leaving the dock "since they all go to the same place"...WRONG! After 15 plus minutes we realized we were going WAYYY out of the way in the wrong direction. We immediately got off at the next departure point and it was like a ghost town (at 8:00 at night). One man said in broken English. Why you here? No more boats tonight. We couldn't even find our location on a map. Suddenly, this sweet Thai woman (who even looked like an angel) spoke wonderfully perfect English walked up out of nowhere. "Can I help you?" "Uh, yeah..we are a long way from our hotel and the boats aren't running". She said that Taxis in this part of town probably won't drive to downtown, especially when it's so busy at this hour. She asked us to follow her and she would try to find a taxi to explain our dillema (in Thai of course). She flagged down 4 different taxis who all said "NO" and quickly drove off. Finally she said, "this one will take you"..we noticed that he did not have all kinds of stuff hanging from his rear view mirror (like all other drivers do which invoke some sense of false safety). The length of our trip indeed verified how far we were. We were staying at a new hotel that every other cab driver couldn't find. He drove right to it and (here's the real miracle) we wondered how much our mistake would cost us. He asked for 100 baht (about $3 U.S.)and gave us a big grin. Wow..did we ever feel cared for. Our Father has his people and angels all over the world.
Janet
Bill,
ReplyDeleteMany years ago (in the 50s)I heard a missionary give an account of extreme protection by angels when he and his family we trapped in their apartment when the Japanese army invaded Hong Kong. They noted the progress of soldiers going from one building to the next and either killing or dragging out residents trapped as they were. When the soldiers came to their building the missionary and his family went down on their knees praying for God's protection. The doorway to their apartment was only covered by a thin curtain but as the soldiers went through the building they again, and again, passed their doorway with stopping. The family could almost observe one of God's angels standing there as a guard. This kind of account could be shared many times by God's people who experienced our Lord's protective hand by His angels.
Dave Shaver
Your story of the angel was just awesome. It gave me goosebumps and I can't wait for Jack to get home so he can read it too. We actually entertained two angels in our home in Orange, CA when we lived there. We'll tell you about it when we can talk face to face. It was incredible, just as your encounter was.
ReplyDeleteJ and D L.
Let me give you my angel experience! At rush hour in Japan, the last ones on the train at the station literally have to heave themselves in the car - against the crush of bodies already there. I tried that on one occasion only to bounce back out and fall between the train and the platform. A hand reached out and grabbed me, and helped me get on the train just before the doors closed.. I believe to this day it was the hand of an angel. What a great Father we have!
ReplyDeleteVic S.
When Thomas was about 4 years old, we still lived in the Black Forest in Germany. Wolfgang was trimming a tree in the garden. Wolfgang put a big ladder to the tree and told Thomas, who was with him, that he needs to get something else from the cellar. To just wait and not climb up the ladder.
ReplyDeleteAfter Thomas committed his life to His Father at about 7 years of age, he mentioned, "Ma, you know when I first trusted Him? I said, "You'll have to fill me in."
Then he told me the ladder story. How he climbed up even though his Dad told him not to. When he reached the top, the ladder tilted and somebody pushed it back against the tree. Looking down, he couldn't see anyone. He climbed back down and didn't dare to tell us what happened. "Well", I said "Your Guardian Angel came to rescue." H & W K