Living in the inner-city is truly a different life. I feel that over the last 9 months, I have been in the "honeymoon" stage. It's exciting, somewhat adventerous...and the best part by far is living near the kids and youth that I work with. I still am excited about it all, and know this is where I am suppose to be. But a few days ago, I was awakened to some of the challenges it faces.
On Sunday night, while driving with a friend, I saw that the street HPCO is located on and also where the Weidman's (our director/HPCO founder family) was completely blocked off and filled with police cars. I later learned that there had been a shooting and a man was killed. This is a street I spend a lot of time on, know people...it's pretty much my second home. It's so sad to see stuff like this happen. Fortunatley, no innocent bystanders were killed in the shoot out between this man and the police. And while to anyone looking in this was just a man who got what he deserved, he was still a man with a family, he was a father...who's to say one of our boys won't grow up and be in this kind of situation. Breaks my heart. There is so much anger, bitterness, and just plan feeling lost that growing up in this life brings. Only the hope of Jesus Christ can change that. I was remembering a sermon I heard about reaching the lost and how the pastor said we need to remember, the person is not the enemy, but the sin. There is a lot of sin in the city, but not any more than there is in the suburbs. They just don't hide it as well here. They also can't hide it under money and perfect lawns. To many people, it's about daily survival and being caught in the only lifestyle they have ever known.
Statistically, our kids don't have much of a chance of being successful. Chances are they will end up on the streets, selling drugs, getting pregnant by multiple men at young ages and living in poverty with no way out. But their not just statistics to me. They are lives, faces, children I love and that our Heavenly Father gave His life to be with. My prayer is that through the ministry here and the lives of believers who care, God will change the statistics with these kids and young people.
1 comment:
Good words, friend. It is so easy for me to sit back in my comfy chair and dismiss those with seemingly insurmountable challenges as "lost causes," and judge them too quickly.
Your perspective reminds my heart that these are individuals who are just as much in need of Christ as I am. As a cop, my Dad always said, "There, but for the Grace of God, go I," meaning, before he sat in judgment of this person he was arresting, he needed to realize that he would be in their shoes if it weren't for the grace of God.
You rock, Hilliker. Keep up the Good work.
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