THE STRANGER AT MY DOOR (April 1987)

[Guest guest]

THE STRANGER AT MY DOOR (April 1987)

"Share with him thy bread of blessing, sorrow's burden share; When thy heart

enfolds a brother, God is there. "

I had almost turned the woman away on that bleak, rainy day. She was a

bent-over, poorly clad woman who had been slowly walking down our place, going

from door to door. I was curious because she only had time to say a few words

before the door was shut in her face.

The rain had been falling steadily all day. So had been my spirits. We had

little money, (being the month end for a salaried employee) and time hung

heavily on my hands and I did not like living in a God-forsaken forest area

like ours, while my husband, Dr. G.R. Vijayakumar was on duty in his hospital.

At that time, I was so full of doubts and questions that I had no faith in

anything or anybody.

Then the woman knocked at my door.

"Madam" she said, trembling with cold, "do you have any house-work that I can

do? I can scrub floors or do anything. I have hungry children at home and no

money....."

"I am sorry" I stammered, "I wish I could help you but I can't".

"Well, thank you anyway," she said and turned to go.

Immediately I looked at Sai in the big photograph that adorns our drawing room.

He looked as if He was making fun of me, as to what kind of a Sai devotee I

was.

I ran to the door and called to her "Please come back". She did, wiping the rain

water from her face.

"Let me give you hot tea", I heard myself saying.

"Why, God bless you" she said: "You are a good Bhakta of Shirdi Sai Baba".

The words startled me — "a good Bhakta of Shirdi Sai Baba".

I gave something to eat and she ate quickly, in the manner of a person who lives

with hunger. Then she looked around the house and spotted my pile of clothes

waiting for ironing to be done. Despite my protests, she began to iron.

I gave all the money I had in the house — just some change, and some sweets I

had bought for the children. Then we talked about the things that make the

world and its people good or bad.

When she left she thanked me for all I had done for her. I watched her begin

again her slow measured journey down the street. But she had started me on a

journey, too.

I began the journey towards the faith I now have — a faith that has seen me

through many crises and made me more aware of others.

Mrs. Seetha Vijayakumar

Nilgris, (T. Nadu).

The experiences of Devotees as published in Shri Sai Leela Magazine, can be read

at www.saileelas.org/magazines/SAILEELA/exp.htm