Seventy-seven percent of Americans believe in angels according to an Associated Press poll conducted In December 2011. It was intended to survey one thousand Americans on a variety of topics ranging from believing in Santa Claus to what they thought about the Tea Party movement. Of those surveyed 88% identifying themselves as Christians, 95% being Evangelical, and 94% were those who attend weekly religious services. Belief in angels is fairly widespread even among the less religious. A majority of non-Christians think angels exist, as do more than 4 in 10 of those who never attend religious services. My mom who was agnostic – bordering on atheist – also believed in angels. Because I've been witness to and experienced so much good, and so much evil; I am one of the 77% that does believe.
What is an angel? According to Dictionary.com the first definition is as follows:
“One of a class of spiritual beings; a celestial attendant of God. In medieval angelology, angels constituted the lowest of the nine celestial orders (seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities or princedoms, archangels, and angels)”.
Most Christians believe in these spiritual beings and that they are here to help humans through divine assistance. Catholics have specific names for angels and believe in the nine celestial orders. Guardian angels are also a common idea for Catholic and non-Catholic alike. Thanks to the Renaissance and its artistic depictions, it is now a commonly held supposition that they have wings. According to Islam, angelic beings are considered part of the “unseen world” and have no free will, are genderless and do not require sleep, food, or drink. In Arabic, angels are called Mala'ika, which means "to assist and help." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the other hand, view angels in a different light. In the LDS church they profess that there are two classes of angels:
“Those who are spirits and those who have bodies of flesh and bone. Spirits are those beings who either have not yet obtained a body of flesh and bone (unembodied) or who have once had a mortal body and have died and are awaiting the Resurrection (disembodied).”
The second class in this definition show a unique take on angelic beings. They believe that ordinary human beings, here on earth can be angels.
When I was a child, my family lived in Homestead Florida, being stationed at the local Air Force base. In August of 1992, my father and I were anxiously glued to the T.V. for updates on the approach of hurricane “Andrew”; what was then the costliest hurricane in United States history. We had two days before it would hit land and my mother at that point had been missing for a week. I awoke the morning before Andrew hit to find my mom was home, preparing our family to flee our soon to be flattened house. I would be long dead if not for her decision to put us first. For almost a year we lived in a rundown hotel after losing almost everything we ever owned. During that time we had a lot of angelic assistance; the military paid our room and board, as well as food. Family and friends collected money to pay for new clothing and toiletries. These are just two small samples of angels who watched over us.
In conclusion, I want to share with you my conviction that everyday people including you and I can be an angel for others. It doesn't matter if your Christian, Buddhist, or even Atheist. I challenge you to take the time to think of the angels in your life; more importantly, be the angel that someone needs right now.
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