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Angels Unawares

I know I do not have the gift of drama but this is just from a memory of events that took place about fifty years ago. I may not have all of my facts exactly right but the events are essentially true.
Angels Unawares Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:1-2 as a teenager at about 15 or 16 I traveled across from California to Arkansas hitchhiking. I made the trip possibly five times roundtrip.
All it took was an urge and I was on my way.
On most trips I could make the trip just about as fast as if I drove my own car. By hitching a ride the cars that I rode in were always in much better condition than most of the clunkers that I ever owned.
Most trips were uneventful as far as any potential danger. (Danger that I was aware of) "Did I have angels watching over me during those years?"
On that last trip from California going to Arkansas I was in a small town just west of the Grand Canyon. It was just getting dark so I found a well-lit place in front of a service station. I had been standing with my thumb out in hopes of a quick ride before too late. It didn't take long until I had my first offer of a ride. A carload of teenagers offered me a ride but I declined saying that I did not want to crowd them. They circled the block and attempted to give me a ride again.
After the third attempt I became concerned and when they came around again I walked to the service station office and they went on.
After they left I was relieved when a car pulled over with two teens.
My good feelings departed when they began talking between themselves and discussing where they could take me. They decided on the road leading to the Grand Canyon. When they turned off the road I then noticed another car turning off behind them.
My worst fears were realized when one said lets ask Frank what he wants to do with him. When the one on the right side got out I waited for my chance and then ran through the woods and did not stop until I was too tired to go further. I fell I found new strength when I fell and brushed against the quills of a porcupine.
The teenagers did not attempt to follow me. I guess then got their thrills when I jumped out and ran. It took until 6am the next morning before I miraculously found my way back to the highway. As I arrived at the highway a deputy sheriff happened along and gave me a short ride to a better place to catch my next ride. He said it would be difficult to ever find the boys and I was not interested in waiting to see. I just wanted to leave that area ASAP.
The rest of my trip to Arkansas was pleasant and I soon forgot my side trip toward the Grand Canyon.
I spent about three months visiting friends and relatives then decided it was time for my return trip to California.
I took off in the early hours and headed toward Fort Smith. I was there within a few hours, maybe four hours. In Fort Smith I was offered a ride with two men that were possibly in their thirties. They were traveling to Sacramento. That was great with me (I thought) because they would drive through Vallejo.
What I found out quickly was this was not going to be the usual pleasant journey that involved seeing sights and making small talk.
The first order of business was a threat by the man in the passenger seat. He had a Pistol. (I don't know what kind; it just looked big to me at close range) He said, "Don't get smart or try anything or I will shoot. I did my best to assure them that all I wanted was a ride.
Both of these men began drinking beer and the one with the gun became more verbal as we traveled. I then determined that I was going to depart from their company at the first opportunity. It did not take long for them to drink all of their been and stop for a refill. They went into a bar and tried to get me to go in with them. I said, "No thanks, I'll wait here” I was serious. I did wait until the bar door closed behind them and I jumped and ran. That was someplace in "I think, Arizona"
I found a cafe open and felt it would provide a place to rest and hide until they had possibly left town. I went in and sat at a stool at the counter. The man next to me asked where I was going and I told him.
He said, "Can you drive?" I said, "Yes Sir"
I was elated. He said I have been driving all day and I need sleep. "I didn't tell him that I had been up at that time about thirty-six hours without sleep."
I drove through the night and in the early morning hours we arrived in Mohave Calif. I had to leave my newfound friend because he was going south to Los Angeles. I had to take the Northern Route to Vallejo.
As was my hitchhiking custom, I walked to the edge of town looking for a place with a wide shoulder so any prospective ride would have plenty of room to pull over.
It sure felt good again to realize that I had been spared from the hands of those drunks. I had by that time had just about concluded that hitchhiking was not the best mode of travel.
Next my worst fears were realized. My relief and pleasure was short lived. Those drunken idiots were headed toward me. I was caught.
How can I ever escape now? Where did they come from? Why me?
The impossible happened. A big black car with an elderly black couple stopped at my side just ahead of the drunks. The Elderly Driver asked me, "Can you drive? I had now been up for close to forty-eight hours without sleep. These folks were going to Stockton and offered me a ride to Vallejo if I could drive. I was afraid to tell them that I too was tired and in desperate need of sleep.
By the Grace of God, I drove myself to the safety of home in Vallejo without incident.
It would not be until years later and reading the Scriptures and other accounts of many that had personal encounters with Angels that I ask, "Was it man or Angel in Arizona that gave me a ride to Mohave Ca?
Were the Elderly Black Couple, Man or Angel?
It matters not to me; in my mind these will always be Angels to me.

Bob Raines now living in the state that I was born, Arkansas. My e- mail address is drbobraines1@juno.com I live just west of Little Rock in the county near Benton
 

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