Marina Guy

The other day I was down at the docks roaming around and for those of you who know me, this is not unusual. I do in fact try to get down to the marinas at least twice a week -- for me it is entirely therapeutic as I dream of being on the ocean with the sails all the way up in the wind!
Needless to say, it is a huge stress reliever for me and I've spent much time in thought and prayer in such places. Anyway as I was roaming around it started to rain, so I decided to head back to the parking lot since I didn't have much reason to get wet that day. As I ventured back I heard a guy call from behind me in my general direction:

"Are you heading into town? "

I said nothing since I figured he was talking to someone else and continued walking up the dock -- only to my mild shock he repeated himself and this time there was no mistaking he was referring to me. There is a point sometimes when everything stops around you, and you realize that you are about to be put into a situation that you don't want to be in, and all at once options start running through your mind. By the time I had one option come to mind I found myself responding to him:

"I live here actually... "

I wish to point out that my response was intended to ward off any thought on his part that I might give him a ride, since I knew what he was getting at. As I don't make it a habit to give strangers a ride I was thinking how I could avoid such a venture. Whilst thinking this he then responded: You live in the marina? So I replied... No, I mean I live in town.

He pressed on..."Well I was going to ask if I could get a ride into town with you..."

At this point I took an appraisal of whether or not I was in danger and after a quick scan I actually felt sorry for him, and indeed some compassion. He was probably in his 60’s, was roughly dressed and had two bags with him, one of them a Molson bag. So I casually replied as if I was used to this type of thing:

"Sure..."

As we walked up the docks to the parking lot, he immediately went into his own world and started reeling sentences on his experiences sailing. When I actually put his bags in the trunk, and he climbed into the passengers seat the thought rang in my head “Lord, what AM I doing?”

So off we went, and he continued with his thoughts and opinions on sailing, life and politics. Whilst barreling along the highway I noted a wedding band on his finger, and listened to him more then spoke. As I pondered the predicament he was in (it would have been a LONG walk) a thought came to mind, and it sat with me for a while:

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.." Matt 25:35

As I thought about this I asked him again where he wanted me to take him, and although he said I could drop him off in town and would walk home, I offered to take him to his final destination. I was wanting to do this for him, and at the same time I had a real curiosity to see where he resided.
After about 10 minutes, we pulled up to his house and wouldn’t you know it is a lovely little house looking right onto the ocean. He continued his verbal ponderings until we reached the top of the driveway, and closed our little excursion with standard small talk.

As I got out of the car and gave his bags to him, there was a moment when we caught each other’s glance for the first time. He said nothing at first...and after a second or two he smiled brightly and thank for me for the ride. Just as he turned I told him he was welcome and asked him his name, realizing I had no idea who my brief passenger called himself. He said he his name was Brian.
In truth, I may never seen Brian again – but then this is a small town and you never know. As I got back in the car, and rolled down the driveway I pondered what just took place.

Let me be the first to say I don’t encourage people to go out and give strangers rides at random. I believe however, God used this experience to speak to me, and I hope it speaks to you in some way.

Aside from the colourful metaphors he used amidst his opinions I was definitely reminded of this…

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it..” Hebrews 13:2