Charge batteries, change a life.

What's faster than a speeding bullet? What can jump over tall buildings? I have no clue.

The other day, as I sat in the local emergency room, I noticed this contraption pictured here.

At first, it wasn't clear to me what this strange looking apparatus did. So, I stood up, walked across the room, and realized this is a phone charging kiosk. Sweet! While waiting for a friend to be checked by the doctors, I had burned through a lot of my battery as I passed the time on my phone. Have you noticed that many hospitals diminish phone signals which then really overworks the battery? This kiosk has an assortment of phone charging cords.

What a neat and thoughtful idea for this hospital to consider the families who must wait for diagnoses. Phone batteries don't last forever and so this charging station in effect is like the old-fashioned phone booths. In case you missed it, that was the 'Superman' reference in the title....

Excitement is unique. It can get one really happy and optimistic and if it leaves quickly, can take the air out of the balloon. I went one by one around the cords looking for the one that would fit my phone. Nope. Nope. Nope.... must have missed it, so I went through them all again. Nothing!

Plubbbbbbububub, there just went the air.

Hospitality is much needed in a world filled with arrogance and self-centered people. This charging kiosk offers a respite to folks when they need a little help. I mused over the fact my phone was not compatible with any of the cords. I wonder why? No matter, it did teach me a valuable lesson.

Who am I missing? Is the hospitality that I value so much also flowing out of me toward those who need a respite. Or, are there people walking right by me who need some encouragement but I have nothing for them? Worse still, am I withholding hospitality to another person? God requires you and me to be aware and prepared to offer that respite to somebody who finds themselves in need. Hospitality is a connector. It demonstrates compassion, concern, and a caring spirit. See our guidance found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.

"For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who

shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and

loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you

yourselves were aliens in Egypt. Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take

your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and

awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy

in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky."

(Deuteronomy 10:17-22, NIV)

Ultimately, anything God asks of us is something God has already offered to us. Today, consider an act of hospitality toward somebody you don't know. It may take some investment on your part. You may have to go out of your way to accomplish this task. WARNING!!! You will be changed and charged to do it again. You have the appropriate charging cord to get this done. It's marked love.