FKJ 152

It sounds like a rap song,  "I'm F-K-J, 1-5-2, talk'n at 'cha in the 'hood" .  It's a license plate, I tried to memorize it on my way home from my walk with Cyclone Friday.  Wondering if I should call Crime Stoppers, or some police info. line.  Walking past the back of our church, New Life Ministries, I saw a white Catillac parked that had some serious violence done to it.  Walking closer, I was amazed at the battering this car took.  Windows smashed, dents and scrapes, tires blown out...I picked up Cyclone to get a better look inside.  I hope there wasn't any blood, or bodies....ugh, the thought turned my stomach, but it was empty. Looked like a crow bar had done its dasterly deed, the person holding it a gang member getting someone back for whatever.

So this was in the back of our church, so I knocked on the door to see if our friend and staff lady was there.  She opened up and when I pointed over to the car, she instantly said "I'm sorry, I don't want to get involved...I'm a single lady working here most of the time.  If Harry was here, he'd find out right away, but don't expect me to do anything!"   'If Harry was here....", hmmmmm.  So I asked her if I should call the police, she said no.  "Well, I'm a normal concerned citizen walking by, don't you think I should call in anything concerning to me???"  She said, that if I felt that way, go ahead, but don't include her.  

I did call somebody after that (my hubby!) and it was taken care of.   The day before was a book launch for a book just published about Harry's life.  Instead of making me super sad, like I thought it would, it confirmed everything we are doing here and actually gives me the courage to "get involved" and not fear the ones who create the fear and posturing (and car-smashing).  Harry was different because he did not sweep these upsetting circumstances or images under the carpet hoping someone else would deal with it.  He dealt with it, his Christian community learned to deal with it and now it's us that have to deal with it.  Paul Boge, the author was asked that night, what was the secret to Harry's success?  The answer, 'never give up'.  I would also add, 'do not give in to fear', and 'call if there is a  gang induced smashed car behind your church'.  Living here in the West End that is a huge message, one that I hope I can live out radically more and more.