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I Was a Stranger and You Took Me In By Jean Jantzen "The rest of you, who are my eager companions, wait here, while I, with my own ship and companions that are in it, go and find out about these people, and learn what they are, whether they are savage and violent, and without justice, or hospitable to strangers and with minds that are godly" -- The Odyssey of Homer
re we crazy or what? Grandparents of 25, shouldn't I be crocheting slippers and my husband rocking a grandchild on his knee? Instead, we're riding our bikes for seven weeks around Europe. We carry an eight-day train pass, food money, campground money and a ticket home. No guaranteed toilets, showers or bed. First-class luxury trip, this is not! But I'd read the classics, themes of hospitality filling pages. Plato says hospitality is one of the fundamental duties of man. Kings welcomed Homer's hero Odysseus, a man of travel. We, too, are adventurers in a strange land. We are vulnerable, exposed to the elements and in a position where we need God's help. Some thought we were absolutely nuts to have left the security of home to go on an adventure where we are not always guaranteed these daily comforts; but, you know, sometimes we take these very important necessities for granted. And yes, we are out in the big outdoors: no fridge, water, toilet or warm bed at hand; just our bikes and a small trailer behind one to carry a few clothes, one pot, two forks and spoons, and a good knife. We have a little burner to cook on and we pick up our food and water every day. But sometimes vulnerability is a good position to be in. It helps renew and strengthen our faith. "You're from Canada?"
I wondered where we'd set up our tent so we could have early access to the train. Jerry went back to make a reservation for our bikes. In the meantime, this fellow who was riding a bike began to look our bikes over, and he kept returning two or three times. I couldn't help thinking that maybe he was up to no good. I kept an eye on him. Jerry came out of the train station and, wouldn't you know it, this fellow appeared again. "You're from Canada?" he inquired. (He had noticed the Canadian flag attached to my husband's trailer.) "I have lived in Nelson, British Columbia for five years," he said, "and I am here visiting for a couple of months." We asked him about camping, and he invited us to put our tent where he was staying with the soccer club. "I have the keys to the locker room. Have a hot shower." He proudly showed us the most interesting places and historical information about his hometown. Was it a coincidence he just happened to be riding by the train station when we were there? I knew that God was aware of our need and had graciously taken care of it. We were up at 5 the next morning, and able to catch our train at 6, traveling across Germany to Aachen, a city near the Holland border. "Have a shower and lock up when you leave" By the time we got there, it was 9 in the evening and beginning to get dark. We rode our bikes through the city desperately trying to find a place to set up our tent. A streetlight illuminated a cheerful face. "You're from Canada!" his friendly voice boomed into the darkness. We told him we were looking for a place to tent. He said, "It's too late to tent. You're welcome to sleep in my apartment." We quickly agreed. He locked our bikes in the basement, invited us for a drink, and we talked for an hour before we all turned in.
Unbelievable hospitality to strangers! But how could this German man, a computer technician, have known that he was an answer to prayer? I knew that God would take care of us on this trip. I had prayed for protection and help. I had reminded Him just moments before of His promises in Luke 12:27-30:
Sleeping in hay We traveled all the next day, but we were drenched and exhausted from our struggle against the wind when we finally asked at a farm (in Haastrecht, outside of Gouda) if we could sleep in their hayloft. "Sure, come in and have a hot drink," the Dutch lady welcomed us in English. Over hot tea, we learn they are bikers, too. After animated conversation, we walk a short distance to the large barn. I take a deep breath, climb the tall ladder into the hole in the ceiling and Jerry pulled me up the rest of the way. Relieved to be out of the rain and wind, it is comfy and warm in the hay during the blustery weather. The family invited us to stay the next day because of the storm. (Three people were killed from a tree falling on their car.) The family invited us to have a warm bath, wash our clothes and take the opportunity to e-mail our children at home. We were strangers and they took us in, fed us breakfast, lunch and supper. They even invited us to meet their in-laws who lived next to them and wanted to meet "those crazy Canadians" that slept in the hay. They did not speak English, but we got on wonderful. I was able to photograph their ancestor's 1650 Dutch Bible, one of the very first Bibles printed. With their help I even attempted to milk a cow. Ejner and Inger
These two dear people might have been characters from Homer's Odyssey. We were treated royally. They proudly showed us their country. We saw their beloved Queen Margrethe's 1,000-room castle in Fredensborg and strolled through magnificent formal gardens. We drove to Helsingor on the northern coast, travelling down what Ejner playfully calls the "Danish Riviera," and then back to Copenhagen. Being folk dancers (their outfits are wholly handmade -- Inger's lace hat alone took her 400 hours to make) they took us to a heritage park where we slipped back a century or two and watched a hundred costumed dancers (people they knew) perform Denmark's traditional dance. What a privilege! Had we been ordinary tourists we'd have missed this extraordinary event. They even accompanied us on the boat to Sweden so we could say we've been there. The art of hospitality is alive! Odysseus would feel at home. These are only a few of the precious memories of ordinary people who made us feel loved and welcome in a strange land. This brought to our attention the importance of looking after the stranger. Humbly, we give our thanks to all who saw our need and helped us. We were reminded of God's love towards us and were reminded of our duty to look after others. The importance is stressed by Jesus, who said:
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