Reading from "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" has done a lot to show some philosophical insight into how human nature is portrayed when confronted with something that appears out of the ordinary in contrast to their daily lives. To have treated a divine being that should have been given spiritual reverence with such indifference and disregard to his own pain appears so contradictory to what one could believe should happen.
Not to bring religion into the discussion, but it does distinctly remind one of the story of Jesus, how He came into this world, and how he was treated. Unlike any other orthodox future king born in the confines of a palace, Jesus was born in a smelly stable meant to feed livestock. Treated with curious reverence by some, then pursued to be killed by King Herod. Then it comes down to His ministry, after having gathered a plethora of followers, to suddenly have most of them turn their backs on him when he stood trial and was crucified on the cross, mocking him as he hung in unimaginable pain. But then arose from the grave in a glory ever so brilliant, then returning from whence He came back into Heaven.
The bottom line is that He appeared as a human, just like anyone else, except for His ability to perform miracles. In comparison to the old man with the wings, his wings were so filthy and littered with "stellar parasites." He appeared to be so human-like, so close to reality, so much so that the doctor who examined him had commented that his wings were so natural that he couldn't explain "why no one else had them." And yet, he wasn't fully human justified by his wings. Rising in brilliance, it wasn't until he floated away when the woman of the house began to see him for the wonder who he was.
All comparisons aside, the story itself kind of displays this surreal, yet ironic, coexistence between the good will of some people, alongside with the cruelty of others. The old man was treated poorly, and yet the couple still felt accountable to him to provide him at least with some degree of shelter. However, he was used by the couple as a sort of exchange for a prosperous flow of money. Pelted, beaten, burned, there was only mockery in wait for him. How could he even decide to still stay with the couple if he endured such pain?
Compassion. I believe it was his intent from the very moment he fell from the heavens to be able to help the couple out of their poverty. He was ridiculed for how natural he appeared to everyone else, yet was never fully human. Despite all such scorn, he stuck around to be exhibited as this extraordinary circus animal, while the couple was able to live the good life through the money they amounted through his presence.
Isn't it easy to agree that many people take for granted the wonders that happen in their lives and the blessings they receive as a result of those wonder? Nearly everything that happens in a life always appears to be ordinary among people. But what if one of those seemingly ordinary things had more extraordinary quality than they first believed? One of the greatest things about ordinary life is that there is always some deeper significance to everything that occurs in it. People ought to be more careful about the things they take for granted and the things they find to be the most precious, valuable, and mysterious to them. It's just one of the many forms of enjoyment and humor that people find in this world.
Therefore, instead of scorning every little thing that happens to be annoyingly ordinary, they should be able to look beyond what it appears to be in turn for its true value and wonder. Who knows, they might just find several "angels" out of the smallest occurrences in their lives.
Can you find your angels?
(Again, not to be religious, but I thought this fit in so well with the story I just had to add it in somewhere)
Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)- "Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!"
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