Angels on Bicycles

How Angels in Faith & Community Serve God’s Purposes

Dale and Susie would not consider themselves angels, but “angel” means messenger from God. Anytime the Lord sends someone to deliver a message for Him, for that moment they are an angel. Angels are usually sent by the Lord to answer prayers or to deliver an important message of hope to someone who has a need of His love and mercy.

Shortly after moving to Indianapolis, Vi and I were looking to join a church. We decided on Holy Spirit at Geist church. When I wanted to find a small prayer group, I asked the Cursillo coordinator from the parish for help. She directed me to follow a red Jeep, to the parish activity center across the way. Unfortunately, I lost sight of the driver after he entered the building, so I returned to leave my card on the Jeep’s windshield. He called the next day, only to find out we were neighbors. Dale and his wife Susie rode their bikes down to our home. Dale not only offered to introduce me to his prayer group, but also offered his handyman services if I needed help. It was not long before I took him up on handy man services because that is not my forte’.

Dale and Susie continued to welcome new neighbors to the neighborhood. About two months ago new neighbors moved into a newly constructed house directly behind Dale’s house. Suzie and Dale stopped to see them on a bike ride a few weeks after that to introduce themselves. They met the wife in the driveway and were surprised to find that the couple were long time members of their same church. From their conversation they found out that the husband had Parkinson’s disease, and in the last month had a stroke. The poor lady seemed totally overwhelmed.

Dale told her that he was handy and offered to help her in any way that he could. During their talk it also came out that both Suzie and Dale were involved with St. Vincent de Paul. She asked if the thrift shop ever had any hospital beds to sell, as she was anticipating her husband would need one soon. Dale told her that in his 15 years as a volunteer he recalled only one bed that had been donated, but that they would watch out for one.

In about the same time period another couple from his church had moved into Britton Falls because of the failing health of the husband. Dale knew her as they sang in the church choir together. Dale would frequently stop by their house on his bike rides to check up on her husband’s health, and to fill her in on what was going on in the neighborhood, as the main care giver she seldom got out.

In recent months, her husband’s health continued to fail to the point that she needed to purchase a hospital bed for him. Unfortunately, he was only able to use the bed a short time before he died. Not long after her husband died, Dale received a call from her. She had recalled an earlier conversation about the woman behind his house and the discussion Dale had in the driveway about a future need of a hospital bed. She indicated that she would like to donate the new bed to that couple. Dale gave her the contact information, and the last Dale heard, arrangements were being made to move the bed.

Dale felt so incredibly happy to be a tool which the Lord used to have this exchange take place. The receiving couple was elated to get an automated bed just like they needed, and the donating wife was so happy to see the bed get a new home, especially considering that it went to a fellow member of the church. Dale is so humble that he never realizes that he is one of God’s favorite messengers.

Church is more than a place of worship; a neighborhood is where a community of members have a desire to help each other and the Lord is there to bring them together. May the Lord bless you with being called to be one of his angels.

Clarence