I’m not a fan of escalators. As a child, I feared if I didn’t step off quickly enough, my feet would be sliced off when the escalator step descended beneath the plate at the bottom. As an adult, I’m watchful to step off an escalator as quickly as I can. Unfortunately, I learned at the end of my Israel trip last summer that escalators have another hazard.

As I detailed in other blog posts (LindaLarramore.com), my trip to Israel was rewarding in more ways than I can count. Our trip came to an end after a full day of touring, and we left Tel Aviv close to midnight. I was too keyed up to sleep well, so I barely slept on the 14-hour flight back to the U.S.

We landed at the airport in Newark, New Jersey, where we were required to go through customs. I was tired but excited about being closer to home. When a customs agent yelled at me for standing too close to the couple ahead of me, I was stunned and irritated at his overreaction.

I backed up and started looking for an escape when another agent nearby waved me over. He cheerfully asked me a couple of questions then sent me through. Meanwhile, the grumpy agent was still grilling the couple ahead of me as if they were heinous drug smugglers.

Our crowded flight to Atlanta was without incident. A bus was waiting to take us from the Atlanta Airport to Warner Robins, so all we weary travelers needed to do was retrieve our luggage then exit the building. Simple enough. I was so done with airports.

Most of our group, luggage in tow, headed for the elevators to take them to the first level. My friends Susan and Mike decided to take the escalators. I was too tired to think for myself, so I followed them.

As we plodded along, I noticed three teenage girls walking near us. They stood out because their clothing was completely white. These girls weren’t wearing uniforms, either.

They were all modestly dressed in white tops with one wearing a skirt, one wearing capris, and one wearing shorts. They exuded joy as they talked and laughed.

Susan and Mike smoothly rolled their suitcases onto the escalator then stepped on. I rolled my suitcase onto a step then attempted to step on. However, my feet flew out from under me, and I found myself lying on my back with my legs on the escalator.

I reached for something to grab hold of to no avail. Meanwhile, the escalator was pulling my legs, dragging me, so I yelled, “Grab me!”

Immediately arms reached under my shoulders and pulled me to my feet. I turned and found the three white-clad girls were my rescuers. I hugged them and thanked them for being my angels. They told me they were glad to help and confirmed that I was okay.

Were they actually angels? Often angels in the Bible inspired awe and fear, such as those who appeared to shepherds the night Jesus was born. When the angel Gabriel visited Mary in Nazareth, however, she was troubled by his greeting but not by him (Luke 1:26-29).

Consider Hebrews 13:2 (NKJV).

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing,

some have unwittingly entertained angels.

This means angels are able to blend in with humans.

When my suitcase reached the bottom without me, Susan and Mike looked up. Everything had happened so quickly I was on my feet by then. I stepped on the escalator with my three angels behind me and joined my friends at the bottom.

The girls walked out of the airport just ahead of us and turned right. As we left the building, I looked for my rescuers, but they were gone. Admittedly, I wanted to see them vanish the way Monica, Tess, and Andrew did at the end of every Touched by an Angel episode.

Of note, these girls didn’t have luggage. Why were they in the airport?

For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

Psalm 91:11 (NKJV)

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those

who will inherit salvation?

Hebrews 1:14 (NKJV)

Once we were on the bus, I assessed my injuries. Fortunately, I only sustained a scraped calf and scraped hands. Without divine intervention, I no doubt would’ve freaked out and likely tumbled down the escalator.

I’m not exaggerating. When my legs were being pulled, I felt as if I were in the grip of something evil and experienced a moment of terror.

Angels or humans, God placed my rescuers exactly where I needed them to be when I fell. Even so, I won’t be stepping on an escalator anytime soon.