[ This is not a reposting from something that was sent to me, it is my own account of what actually

This is not a reposting from something that was sent to me, it is my own account of what actually happened to me today.  Please feel free to tell me what you think.


So, I get off work today, head to a gas station to fill my tank and while i'm standing at the pump some guy asks if I know the area because he is lost and needs help finding his way.  He walks with an obvious limp and a cane but that doesn't phase me, my mom does too.  He is an older black man, he tells me he is a recovering alcoholic, and is heading to a group to help others on the road to recovery.  That doesn't make any difference to me, my family is a very mixed bag of individuals and I have friends who struggle on the same road he is walking.  I would have helped him no matter who he was because it's just my nature to help those in need and he seemed to be a kind person. 

I know the area he says he's trying to get to, at least well enough to give him directions, and I send him on his way.  He turns to leave, says "God bless you dear." as I open my car door, and almost as an after thought, he asks if I am Christian.  Expecting the obvious effort to convert me I sigh, consider my answer, and then an idea strikes me.

"Would you retract your blessing if I wasn't of a similar faith?"  I ask.  He looks confused so I add "It seems rather shallow to offer a blessing and then ask what my faith is, as though it would make a difference to me what deity the blessing comes from or whether it would affect me if I don't believe in the same god you do.  Like giving someone a gift for no reason and then after the fact asking if it is something they wanted.  Are you going to take it back if they don't like it?  Are they really going to argue with getting something for nothing?  I don't care where it comes from i'll take all the blessings I can get.  I figure that the more gods I have blessings from after all is said and done the better off I am."  He tries to backpedal telling me that he is also a preacher and was just curious.  "Well," I ask "does it really matter?  If you give a blessing to someone because they have helped you out of the kindness of their heart you should give your blessing from your heart and not with conditions.  The bible tells us "judge not lest ye be judged" and and "love thy neighbor" it says nothing about these things being contingent on the other person being the same faith as you.  So why do you ask?"  He looks at me in awe as I get in my car and get ready to leave, he seems like he wants to say something so I look at him expectantly.

"You would make a good Christian."  He tells me with certainty in his voice and amazement in his eyes. 

I shake my head, look up at him with a smile, and say "No, i'm just a good person, in my book that's all that matters, the rest is just semantics."  His jaw drops as I close my door and seeing his expression I decide I have to add something.  I open my window as he stares avidly interested in what I might say next.  "By the way, Goddess bless you, from the bottom of my heart.  I am so glad that I was here to help you find your way."

In that moment I felt like an instrument of the divine.