Strangers

[JustGeorge]

Often, part of a spiritual quest or ordeal highlights an idea of being a 'stranger'. This could be as a lone individual, or as a group of travelers through a land.

When one is a stranger, they may not feel safe, they may feel misunderstood, or may misunderstand. Alternatively, they may experience hospitality or wonders that they wouldn't have if they'd simply stayed home.

What are your favorite religious stories of being the 'stranger'?

Do you have any personal stories of being a 'stranger'?

 

[Twilight Hue]

Often, part of a spiritual quest or ordeal highlights an idea of being a 'stranger'. This could be as a lone individual, or as a group of travelers through a land.

When one is a stranger, they may not feel safe, they may feel misunderstood, or may misunderstand. Alternatively, they may experience hospitality or wonders that they hadn't if they'd simply stayed home.

What are your favorite religious stories of being the 'stranger'?

Do you have any personal stories of being a 'stranger'?

I enjoyed my time going through Amish Country and being a stranger that waves to passing strangers with a friendly smile.

 

[JustGeorge]

I enjoyed my time going through Amish Country and being a stranger that waves to passing strangers with a friendly smile.

I'm an hour from an Amish community. I like visiting, too. Looking from the outside at a very different way of life.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I'm an hour from an Amish community. I like visiting, too. Looking from the outside at a very different way of life.

It is, and I've been so long gone from that kind of environment , it was kind of surprising to see this type of camaraderie still existing in the United States. I'm just grateful it's still around. It's like a time capsule well worth preserving even if I don't agree with their religious inclinations.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Often, part of a spiritual quest or ordeal highlights an idea of being a 'stranger'. This could be as a lone individual, or as a group of travelers through a land.
When one is a stranger, they may not feel safe, they may feel misunderstood, or may misunderstand. Alternatively, they may experience hospitality or wonders that they wouldn't have if they'd simply stayed home.
What are your favorite religious stories of being the 'stranger'?....................................

A favorite story is found at Luke 10:30-37 about the neighborly good Samaritan
We are to broaden out, widen out, in showing practical love for strangers in their time of distress as did the Samaritan

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I'm an hour from an Amish community. I like visiting, too. Looking from the outside at a very different way of life.

Us too about an hour away. Love to shop at their 941 Compass Road store, also their hat store not that far from there

 

[Twilight Hue]

A favorite story is found at Luke 10:30-37 about the neighborly good Samaritan
We are to broaden out, widen out, in showing practical love for strangers in their time of distress as did the Samaritan

It's tough because in real life sometimes that apparent 'good samaritan' is actually terrible trap ready to spring on its victims.

Always use your brain and wit when dealing with such people.

 

[Pawpatrol]

These aren't exactly stories

The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Islam began as something strange, and it
would revert to its (old position) of being
strange. So good tidings for the strangers.”
Sahih Muslim – Vol 1 Hadith 372

"Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) said:
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) took hold of
my shoulder and said, ‘Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.’”"

"Ibn ‘Umar (ra) used to say, “If you survive till
the evening, do not expect to be alive in the
morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.”"

"Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al ‘Aas (ra) said:
“One day while we're sitting around the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he said: ‘Give glad tidings to the strangers.’ The Sahaabah (ra) asked: ‘Who are the strangers, O
Messenger of Allah?’ The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘They are the people who are righteous among a larger group of people who are evil, those who obey them (righteous individuals) are less than those who disobey them.’”"

 

[rocala]

About two years ago, I went on a meditation retreat. I have done quite a few but this one was different. There was 24 hour silence and no reading. There were a lot of people there but we were all strangers and would remain so. After four days, it was taking a toll on me and I was feeling very isolated. We finished a morning session and were about to go for lunch which was in a separate building, when heavy rain started. I was about to step out when another man on the course, who had an umbrella, moved to my side and shared the umbrella all the way to the dining room.

I had been feeling very low but that silent gesture of kindness, from a stranger, felt so wonderful.

 

[JustGeorge]

It is, and I've been so long gone from that kind of environment , it was kind of surprising to see this type of camaraderie still existing in the United States. I'm just grateful it's still around. It's like a time capsule well worth preserving even if I don't agree with their religious inclinations.

Same. I wouldn't mind being a part of something like that, absent the religious beliefs.

A favorite story is found at Luke 10:30-37 about the neighborly good Samaritan
We are to broaden out, widen out, in showing practical love for strangers in their time of distress as did the Samaritan

You want to tell us that story?

 

[The Hammer]

Often, part of a spiritual quest or ordeal highlights an idea of being a 'stranger'. This could be as a lone individual, or as a group of travelers through a land.

When one is a stranger, they may not feel safe, they may feel misunderstood, or may misunderstand. Alternatively, they may experience hospitality or wonders that they wouldn't have if they'd simply stayed home.

What are your favorite religious stories of being the 'stranger'?

Do you have any personal stories of being a 'stranger'?

One story that comes to mind is the time Thor tried to cross a river, but the boatman on the other side only egged him on and belittled him through flyting, instead of assisting, insulting his godliness. Turns out the boatman was Odin in disguise, ****ing with his son.

There is also the myth of Heimdallr: "In the Norse myth Rigsthula, Heimdall, also known as Rig, is said to have fathered the three social classes of Scandinavia: peasants, farmers, craftsmen, and nobility. In the story, Heimdall travels across the world of Midgard to check in on the descendants of Ask and Embla, the first humans. He visits the homes of several couples, giving advice and sleeping with the women:

Ai and Edda: The poor but hospitable great-grandparents, who give birth to Thrall, the ancestor of slaves.

Afi and Amma: The grandfather and grandmother, who give birth to Karl, the ancestor of free farmers

Faðir and Móðir: The father and mother, who give birth to Jarl, the ancestor of rulers "

This was done by Heimdallr visiting their homes as a stranger and guest.


------


I find being a stranger in many respects is a good thing. We see things more clearly when we are divorced from their internal effects and influence. Being on the outside looking in.

And really. Aren't we all strangers here? Why else would we ask "why are we here"?

 

[JustGeorge]

One story that comes to mind is the time Thor tried to cross a river, but the boatman on the other side only egged him on and belittled him through flyting, instead of assisting, insulting his godliness. Turns out the boatman was Odin in disguise, ****ing with his son.

I love that story!

There is also the myth of Heimdallr: "In the Norse myth Rigsthula, Heimdall, also known as Rig, is said to have fathered the three social classes of Scandinavia: peasants, farmers, craftsmen, and nobility. In the story, Heimdall travels across the world of Midgard to check in on the descendants of Ask and Embla, the first humans. He visits the homes of several couples, giving advice and sleeping with the women:

Ai and Edda: The poor but hospitable great-grandparents, who give birth to Thrall, the ancestor of slaves.

Afi and Amma: The grandfather and grandmother, who give birth to Karl, the ancestor of free farmers

Faðir and Móðir: The father and mother, who give birth to Jarl, the ancestor of rulers "

This was done by Heimdallr visiting their homes as a stranger and guest.

That one's a bit interesting to me... by being a stranger, he made us all 'familiar'. Would make us all related, wouldn't it?

------


I find being a stranger in many respects is a good thing. We see things more clearly when we are divorced from their internal effects and influence. Being on the outside looking in.

It can be a good thing. It can cause a lot of turmoil over time, too.

And really. Aren't we all strangers here? Why else would we ask "why are we here"?

Why do we do that?

 

[The Hammer]

I love that story!

It's an amusing one.

That one's a bit interesting to me... by being a stranger, he made us all 'familiar'. Would make us all related, wouldn't it?

It also goes to show how hospitality towards others levels the playing field, even between God and mortal.

Aye, it would make us all related, I agree.

It can be a good thing. It can cause a lot of turmoil over time, too.

Very true it can. At the very least it can be isolating. What other negativity do you foresee?

Why do we do that?

Good question. I've wondered this myself without much luck as to a guess. Thoughts?

 

[JustGeorge]

It's an amusing one.

A couple of the insults had me rolling.

It also goes to show how hospitality towards others levels the playing field, even between God and mortal.

Aye, it would make us all related, I agree.


Very true it can. At the very least it can be isolating. What other negativity do you foresee?

The isolation is a big one. Also, confusion. Its hard to know just what to say and do when you're a stranger... Lack of security.

Good question. I've wondered this myself without much luck as to a guess. Thoughts?

Heck if I know!

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Same. I wouldn't mind being a part of something like that, absent the religious beliefs.
You want to tell us that story?

Who really is my neighbor ? The Jews believed only Jews were their neighbor, treat Jews kindly but not non-Jews
Jesus was giving his listeners an expanded view of who is one's neighbor
A man going to Jerusalem fell upon robbers beating him and leaving him half dead.
A priest was passing by, saw the man, but crossed on the other side
Likewise, a Levite also passed on the other side
It was the non-Jew a Samarian when seeing the man was moved with pity to help him
The Samaritans were despised by the Jews - John 8:48-49
It was the Samarian that took care of the injured Jew as brought out at Luke 10:34-35
So, who of the three men helped the Samaritan, made himself neighbor to the Samaritan ?
Jesus urged to do the same: Broaden out, reach out, widen out in helping even a stranger at their time of need
Every man can be upright in his own eyes - Proverbs 21:2 - but God reads hearts and God is Not partial - Acts 10:34-35
Thus, Jesus' story transcends even national, cultural, racial even religious barriers working what is good towards all persons