About a year ago, I sprained my ankle quite badly coming out of the movie theater and needed to go to the hospital for an x-ray and to have it properly bandaged. Thankfully, nothing was broken, but the swelling lasted a few days, and it was some time before I could walk normally.
Later, when I was reflecting on this unexpected mishap, the main thing that struck me from all that had happened was the kindness of strangers. Here is what I mean:
When I first tumbled down the stairs, the pain was excruciating. I was also scared and in shock. Right away, a man appeared—a complete stranger, at the right time and place—and helped my husband, Brian, pick me up and carry me to the car, all the while talking to me and comforting me in a very soothing voice. When we got to the car, he left, just as suddenly as he had appeared.
Then, as we were discussing the route to the emergency hospital, a young couple, whom we had never met before, approached our vehicle and offered to lead the way. Once we reached the hospital, they stayed until I was done with my x-ray, in case we needed their help for anything, especially considering my husband isn’t fluent yet in the local language. Mind you, it was past midnight, and they were strangers to us, but it was comforting to have them around and to talk with them while waiting.
Then another thought started forming in my mind as the timing of it all became rather significant to me. This incident took place on the eve of the Easter weekend. And thinking on the “kindness of strangers” that we experienced, I couldn’t help but see the similarity to what Jesus did for humanity on this day so long ago. Only in His case, He didn’t just carry an injured person to a hospital, or even stay on to make sure she was okay—this Stranger went all the way, by giving His life for people who didn’t even know Him.
And then I recognized Him in the strong arms of the kind man who helped my husband carry me, and in the reassuring smiles of Martin and Anastasia who stayed with us into the night to make sure I was all right. He lives on in each loving deed.