I have to admit, I originally wanted to incorporate the Stranger Things logo into this post just to attract some eyes.
More life lessons from Stranger Things? Of course.
As soon as I finished putting the finishing touches on that post, it hit me.
Then I hit delete.
Stranger Things isn't just a gimmick to get people to look at another #lighttheworld post. This awesome show provides a perfect illustration of today's theme.
"I was a stranger, and ye took me in."
Come on! The word "stranger" is right there in the title. How could I miss it?
The entire premise of the show is based on the idea that a group of twelve year old boys would put these words into action. Thank goodness they did. Not only did it propel Stranger Things to become one of the finest TV shows I have ever seen, it taught a wonderful moral lesson.
The first episode of the show ends with three boys meeting a lonely, terrified, and wet girl shivering in the woods. As the screen fades to black, the audience is left wondering how the boys will react. Will they run? Will they laugh and mock her for her appearance? Will they strike her out of fear? Will they simply ignore her?
Treat people with supernatural powers who escaped from the local scientific laboratory the way you want to be treated.
Luckily, thanks to the magic of binge watching, the viewers only had to wait two minutes to find out.
No. These boys (especially Mike) were special. They were brave. They were kind.
El was a stranger and Mike took her in.
Now if this were reality, I would hope a twelve-year old would tell his parents and let them help.. but this is a sci-fi masterpiece. There's no room for that kind of reality here. So please suspend you disbelief and try to appreciate the actions of this twelve year old.
Not only did Mike give El a warm, dry place to stay, he gave her the coat off his back and rode home in the cold rain. He gave her clothes, blankets, safety, Eggos (lots of Eggos!)... and friendship.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.
Just as season one opens with kids showing kindness to a stranger, season two follows suit. However this time, it is an adult who steps up to live those important words.
In the finale of the first season, El finds herself alone in the woods. Once again, she has become a lonely, scared, freezing girl. Her friends don't even know she is alive. But Sheriff Hopper does.
El was a stranger and Hopper took her in.
Hopper did not really know El. Hiding this "stranger" puts him in grave danger. Yet he risks everything to care for and protect this girl. He gives her clothes, warmth, safety, Eggos (lots of Eggos!)... and a father. Silly sci-fi show or not, that is beautiful.
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.
Ok great. I managed to connect a super popular TV show to an initiative meant to inspire people to do good deeds. But what good does that do? Unless we all happen to meet some kid with super powers wandering in the woods, these lessons are not very applicable to real life.
So let's apply this to the real world. Are there supernatural pre-teens wandering around your neighborhood? Probably not (I hope). However, there are people in your neighborhood who don't have a warm bed to sleep in tonight. There are people on your block who feel lonely. There are people who you work with whom you hardly know.
Today the #lighttheworld initiative is calling for us to do something about those situations.
The project is asking people to be inspired by these words of Jesus:
"I was a stranger, and ye took me in."
The Light the World website explains:
"We find it easy to serve and show kindness to people we already know and love. But we don’t fully follow the Savior’s example until we extend that same kindness to people we don’t know."
The site goes on to suggest several ways you can help a stranger.
Which one of your coworkers do you know the least?
Invite the person to lunch to get to know him or her better.Has a stranger ever done something nice for you?
Determine a way to pay the kind act forward.Want to help refugees in your area?
Visit IWasAStranger.lds.org to get involved.
I know there are many homeless people in my area. Sadly, I don't have the ability to take them in, and make them feel warm and cared for. But there are plenty of shelters in my area who can. Today my kids and I will be visiting a local shelter to give them blankets and my some of my children's gently used toys, puzzles and books.
In addition, I will be telling as any people as I can about Destiny Starting Point Homes. This charity has taken in and cared for many strangers. Perhaps they even gave them an Eggo or two. If you'd like to learn about the homes, please check out the following post: https://steemit.com/teammalaysia/@myach/a-call-for-help-or-destiny-starting-point-homes.
For more information on #lighttheworld, please visit https://www.mormon.org/christmas/25-ways-25-days/day-11
