Well, we had our first real urban adventure today. I went to a grocery store in a slightly sketchy area of town (there was a full-time security guard at the door) and as I was checking out, I was informed that they only take debit cards. We usually use cash for everything, but because of our recent move, I only had a credit card with me. So, I apologized profusely and left my groceries in the store (they were super-nice about it, by the way).
Then, I went out to my car and guess what?! It wouldn't start. At that point, I decided that I had better call David. As long as he was coming anyway, David offered to stop at the bank and get cash.
He arrived about 15 minutes later. The line at the bank was quite long, so he decided that he would just use the new debit card that the bank had given him to buy the gorceries. Well, that was a great idea, but....it didn't work! He called the bank and they said that they were holding all of our deposited checks until the 17th.
Meanwhile, Grace and Kaikai were eating fruit snacks, given to them by a very nice grocery store worker. David decided to jump start the car so that we could go home, while he went back to the bank to get our finances sorted out.
So...about 3 1/2 hours after the start of our grocery store adventure, we finally had groceries in our refrigerator.
It made me think...what would it be like to not be able to afford groceries? What would it feel like to never have enough money and for your credit to be denied any time that you tried to buy something? What would it be like to have grocery shopping consume 3 1/2 hours every time that you went to the store?
Friends, that's the reality for so many people in this country (and far worse for others in this world).
Good grief.
I have led such an incredibly easy and pampered life.
Seriously.
So easy.
What a gift it is to experience just a tiny smidgen of what so much of the world experiences every day. I pray that God would increase His compassion in me as a result of living in the inner city. I pray that He would give me more of His heart for the people whom He loves.
Precious Father, please, oh please...break my heart with the things that break Yours.
3 comments:
I am so eagerly following your journey. We live in Nixa, MO but have start attending church in a less than desirable neighborhood in Springfield, MO. Tomorrow is a special service as we are starting a new series and starting to have 2 services a week. The Pastor challenged everyone to bring a guest this week and put this qualifier on it, "Don't just invite your believing friends looking for a place to worship. Don't invite those looking to be a spectator of an event. The women walking the streets, the men snorting coke in the bathrooms, the people you are usually afraid to approach? INVITE THEM!!"
What a sweet post.
What an eye opener! Don't really think about that too often; thanks for the reminder!
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