A stranger's kindness was appreciated

Blanche DuBois and the 13th chapter of the letter to the Hebrews would not seem to have much in common. The former is a character in a Tennessee Williams play, "A Streetcar Named Desire." The latter is from a letter of anonymous origin found in the New Testament. The commonality in these apparently disparate references can be found in the attention both play to strangers.

Blanche DuBois, played with such aplomb in the 1951 movie by the late Vivien Leigh, is a woman who traded off her looks in her younger days. As she traveled through middle age, though, time was not kind. Blanche, who invested so much esteem in her appearance, took to living in the shadows, rarely letting anyone get too close. Blanche's signature line from the play (and movie) is: "I've always depended on the kindness of strangers."

Those words came back to me last weekend as I rode the Tunnel Hill Trail outside Vienna, Ill., on a newly purchased bicycle. A few miles into the ride, the seat began riding up and down as this writer pedalled the scenic crushed limestone-packed path between Tunnel Hill and New Burnside. "Uncomfortable" is a nice word for how it felt. Stopping several times to attempt adjustment, it was impossible for me to tighten the seat with my bare hands. I needed a socket wrench.

Forehead creased in frustration, I looked up to see a pre-adolescent boy had come alongside. "You having some trouble?" Explaining the problem, the boy told me that he and his grandmother had a truck parked about a mile or so down the trail. I was welcome to tag along; there might be a wrench in the truck. Since the flopping seat made riding seem more like crawling, the boy got to the vehicle first. By the time I arrived, he was holding up two wrenches. With the right tool in hand and the application of a little torque, the seat was made secure.

The boy's name is Caleb and he's from Marion, Ill. He turns 12 on April 28. I'm a little amazed that he stopped to help. I'm considerably older, a stranger, and the trail was quite remote at that particular point. Caleb, no doubt, had been told by caring parents not to interact with strangers. That's good advice for children; we gave that speech to our own kids at tender ages.

At some point, our children start thinking for themselves. They wrestle with their own altruistic motives and weigh the threat of danger. It can be risky to help. Throwing off well-advised caution, Caleb asked a complete stranger if he could lend a hand. He had no idea that I would be no threat to him, yet he offered assistance regardless.

Like Blanche DuBois, last Sunday afternoon I depended on the kindness of a stranger. At this point, my mind takes its usual leap to the pages of Scripture -- specifically to Hebrews 13:2: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing, some have entertained angels without knowing it."

I'd make a temporary revision to that text with apologies to the author, whom scholars claim is unknown. I'm not the angel. That little boy is. I know you don't take the Southeast Missourian out in Marion, Caleb, but on the off chance you might see this column, let me be the first to offer a grateful, "Happy birthday." And thanks.

Dr. Jeff Long is executive director of the Chateau Girardeau Foundation and teaches religious studies at Southeast Missouri State University.