Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Proximity

Have you ever been so tired you felt sick? For some reason this is how I felt tonight by about 4am this morning I was pacing around our prayer room just trying to stay awake and not vomit probably the fact I only had 5 hours sleep last night contributed greatly.

I got a second wind, but it's at times like these when you're fighting off a pounding headache and covered in a sticky film of sweat, that you have little moments of wanting to be comfortable.

The reality is I'm tired and sweaty but alive, what I do continues to give me life. I wouldn't have it any other way and I wouldn't want to be in any other place.

We talked with many people tonight, some we just listened to, others we gave advice to, we prayed with some, took simple prayer requests from others, helped others and generally had a great evening.

I'm surprised we haven't become hard to what we see, obviously you do kind of get used to it but never hard to it. I guess that's a God thing.

The other night Tracy came out of the prayer room and walked by to guys 3 doors up just standing in a doorway grinning at each other whilst two prostitutes performed oral sex on them. I wasn't there but i find it disturbing on so many levels but not a judgmental one. I like what Michael Frost has to say about the word "Proximity" we need to be close to places we work in or the places we work out from. We're right slap bang in the middle of it and hopefully we are here to stay. Our proximity gives us access to disturbing sites but also wonderful opportunities, the good out weighs the bad.

It's good to be close to the people who need you.

4 comments:

EF said...

makes me think of floyd mcclung living in Amsterdam between a brothel and a satanic temple. it's there that people need connected with as much as the clean, sober person asking why bother with life and christianity. love you guys. continuing to pray for your safety.

john heasley said...

What is the big challenge you said you were going to speak about, I am impatiently intrigued.

Karenkool said...

You guys certainly shine brightly in the darkness.

About the tired and wanting to throw up and sweating stuff... maybe you need more water? LOL. Just a thought.

Jayne Clarke said...

What you are doing is messy and chaotic but that is exactly where God is! Had a great experience working with you guys in June on the very 1st team of the summer..keep up the good work..praying for you..Jayne