Attention Walmart Shoppers

By Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation, & Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp.

We have all experienced that adrenaline rush when the yellow caution light turns at a busy intersection. The big question on everyone’s mind is, “Can I beat the light, or do I squeal the tires to an awkward stop?” On this particular day, my awesome vet tech Jimi and I chose plan B. As it turns out, this decision put us first in line, parked next to a homeless man and his crossbred pit bull sidekick in the median. His clothes were soiled and ragged. He was unkept, unshaven with a large cardboard sign that read “anything will help,” written in black magic marker. As we sat uncomfortably, anxious for the light to turn green, I could see his big brown eyes staring pitifully at me out of the corner of my left eye. It seemed like that light would never change. Finally, with a sigh of relief, the light turned green, and we drove off into the sunset. There was no conversation between Jimi and I, but we both were a little taken aback and embarrassed by the way we handled the situation. Several weeks passed with no more thought given to our experience.

As it turns out once a month on Friday night, Jimi and her nine-year-old son Teagan load up to go grocery shopping at the local Walmart. She says the experience is less crowded and traumatic after 10:00 pm. The aisles were mostly deserted, and her cart was filled to the brim. She turned down the beverage aisle and off in the distance could make out the silhouette of a man. As they drew closer, you guessed it, our homeless man was approaching at 12:00. Jimi edged her cart to the shoulder of the bottled water section to yield the right of way as she strategically looked away. Keep in mind Teagan grew up at a sale barn, is very social, and does not know a stranger. As the man proceeded to pass, Teagan looked up with a big smile, extended his hand, and said, “Hi, my name is Teagan!” The man extended his hand and in a 5-pack-aday, hoarse Marlboro voice said, “Hi, Teagan. I’m Frank.” They exchanged small talk and went their separate ways. As fate would have it, they passed each other in every aisle for the next 30 minutes, and each time Teagan boldly exclaimed, “Look, Mom, there’s Frank!” Relieved to reach the only open checkout station, Jimi began the task of unloading groceries and wondering as all moms do, “Did I really need to buy all this stuff? Where did this candy bar come from?” She looked up only to find Frank in line behind her. Teagan could not resist another opportunity to visit with his newfound friend as Frank knelt down on one knee to engage Teagan at his level. They shared a few more words and parted ways. As awkward as the situation seemed, Frank turned out to be a great guy. End of story!

Several weeks later, two days after a bad Colorado hailstorm, our home driveway alarm went off about 7:00 pm. This was one of the first nights I had been home before 9:00 pm, and I was looking forward to a rare laidback night with my beautiful wife Jan and an episode of Gunsmoke. As I looked out into the driveway, an old beat-up '68 white Ford pickup adorned with multiple signs rounded the corner. I recall thinking who could this be and how fast could I give them the brush off? I reluctantly stepped out the front door to view a rough-looking tattooed man with a long ponytail and an Indiana Jones expedition hat. His pickup signs read, “Roofer for hire, hail damage repairs at bargain prices, unconditional money back guarantee.” Annoyed, I approached fully prepared to send him packing. He handed me a business card and said in a pleasant, sincere voice, “My, what a beautiful place.” What could I say? He shared that he worked full time as a night watchman trying desperately to get his roofing and solar panel business off the ground. In that moment, I was a little ashamed that I had not been more engaging. What he said next cut me to the quick. He said, “Thank you, sir, for being so kind.” Deep down I was anything but cordial and kind when I stepped out of the house with my Clint Eastwood “get off my lawn” attitude. Twice in one month I had been put in a similar situation. What I call a spiritual bullet point moment, where that little voice is speaking directly to me! Unfortunately, both times I failed the test. I later asked myself, “What if those two gentlemen were an angel or Jesus in disguise?” No one should ever have to thank you for being kind. All too often we judge people on their appearance or their position in life without knowing the rest of the story. Maybe if we consistently looked at people through the eyes of a child, looking for the good and not the obvious, we would all be a little better off. Lord, I promise to be more aware and to do better!

Digging Deeper

The classical Biblical story regarding dealing with strangers is found in a parable told by Jesus in Luke 10:25-37. It comes out of a conversation Jesus is having with a lawyer who is trying to trap or challenge Him. The conversation boils down to the point where the attorney correctly answers a Jewish legal question posed by Jesus with the answer (abbreviated) “...to love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus commends the legal expert for providing the right answer and encourages him to live out the commandment he just quoted. The counselor however, still looking to one up Jesus, responds with a final trick question... “and who is my neighbor?”

Jesus’ response to this question, “Who is my neighbor?”, leads to the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable entails a man who is beaten by robbers and essentially left to die. Several prominent Jewish citizens come across the man, but only a Samaritan (who were despised by the Jews) had compassion on the victim and took action to care and provide for him. In the end, the answer to the question “Who is my neighbor?” is answered in two parts: (1) our neighbor is whomever crosses our path, and (2) from the perspective of the injured man, his neighbor was the one who had compassion and showed him mercy.

It is interesting to discover that providing kindness to strangers was considered a virtue and held in high esteem in the ancient Middle Eastern, Jewish, and Greek- Roman cultures. The Greek word used in the original New Testament writings to describe this action was philoxenia. Philoxenia (from philos meaning love and xenos meaning stranger) literally means a lover of strangers. We best know this term by its English translation... hospitality.

The following is a sample of two Bible verses that highlight the unique and important concept of caring for strangers:

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV) Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Matthew 25:35-36 (ESV) For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.

Hebrews 13:2 indicates that our kind and hospitable treatment of strangers is one spiritual directive that we are likely to “neglect”. Why? And what is the deal about unknowingly having entertained angels in the process? Is it possible that Frank was an angel and the one who warmly reached out to him was Teagan, a nine-year-old boy? Maybe Frank was an angel, and the purpose of the entire encounter was to serve as an example for our PAC parable and bring this topic to our attention.

While the unknown hosting and care for angels did happen to Abraham (Genesis 18:2-8) and to Lot (Genesis 19:1-3) and might happen to you, this should not be our primary motivation. The greater lesson is that with strangers we literally do not know their story or their situation. It may well be that in our involvement with them, we are the ones who will ultimately be blessed and benefited by the encounter, angel or not.

Matthew 25:35-36 must be the gold standard regarding hospitality for strangers. Food, drink, kindness, clothing, prison visitation... all for a stranger? No wonder this kind of care or hospitality was considered a virtue in times past.

Final Thoughts

Proverbs 19:17 (ESV) Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Matthew 5:42 (ESV) Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

1 Peter 4:9 (ESV) Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

In offering true hospitality (philoxenia), we are a conduit of God’s grace and mercy to others, not based on their merit or worth. As those who have dedicated their lives to being excellent “caregivers” of livestock, here is a nudge to throw a larger loop and include “caregiver to others” as part of our legacy.

Doug Ford DVM is the owner of Beaver Creek Veterinary Clinic in Brush, Colorado. Doug earned his DVM degree from Colorado State University. Brush, Colorado has been his home since graduating from Colorado State. Dr. Doug’s practice has been remarkably diverse over 40 years of veterinary medicine. Dogs, cats, cow/calf, feedlot, two sale barns, and spaying thousands of heifers for grass. The last 20 years of practice has been 50% large western dairies and 50% beef cattle (spaying, cow/calf, and feedlots). In 2005, Doug was given the privilege to become one of the six founding members of PAC. Doug and his wife Jan ranch in their “spare” time. They are also heavily involved in a wetland’s development project on the South Platte River near Snyder, Colorado. Doug’s dad used to say, “Get your grades up. Do you want to grow up to be a ditch digger?” Doug had no idea how much fun it is to play in the dirt with dozers and track hoes. He feels truly blessed and believes that the best days are yet to come.

Greg Quakenbush DVM is a 1978 graduate of Colorado State University and spent 16 years in large animal practice in Porterville, California. For 19 years, Dr. Q worked for Zoetis (Pfizer) and was Director of the US Cattle Technical Services team. Since 2013, Dr. Q has worked with the Geissler Corporation assisting in the development of new veterinary diagnostic technologies. Dr. Q enjoys Bible study, shooting sports, fly-fishing, and being a part-time farmer growing citrus and nuts in the central valley of California.