"You Should Have Asked if They Were Christian"

Just got off the phone with a Christian parent whose son is invited to Josiah's 14th birthday bash and sleep-over.  When she found out where the party was, she had second thoughts and wanted to talk about it with me.  She said she felt sorry and awkward, but Maryland St. is "probably not the safest place to hold a sleep-over....don't you think?".  Steve, Jo and about 9 other boys are planning to watch movies, play sardines and dine on many snacks till the wee hours in a building at 514 Maryland St.  Our church, our second home, not far from Furby where we live.  I said, "we live on Furby not far from the church and we've been here many years and have hardly had any problems!" So it went, her misgivings, her misinformation (she has never walked or "stopped" in the West End before, even though she works in a nearby hospital).  I was feeling my blood boil a bit when she brought up the media.  "I always hear of incidents in that area on the news!"  I said that many of us who live here are dissapointed with the bias the news gives, when city-wide there are incidents all over the place and are never reported.  I told her I have my own bias, I love living here, the life and aliveness, the diversity of University students and hard working immigrants, normal families.  She had to chew on that for a few minutes before she answered, "well, I'll talk to my husband again about it and I'll let you know."  She thanked me for being open with her.  I wondered that if we had a few hours, I'd probably convince her to move here too!  I ended up with saying that we are here to make a difference, be good neighbors and raise our kids knowing the good, bad and ugly but trusting and believing God can change the stuff that isn't so good, and keep us safe at the same time (not that he has too, mind you...).  Well, even a drop off and pick up was risky for her to think about, no matter what I tried to reassure her.

After relating this to the boys (who were curious what the big topic was about), Jo was confused and questioning.  Alot of these guys at the sleep over are from a Christian school by suburb residences that he is going to this year.  "I can't believe it!"  he said.  "We've been here a long time! and we're doing good here!
 piped in Silas.  "You should've asked them if they were real Christians" Jo said.  Yep, that just might have been my next words out of my mouth.  To risk, to love, to walk the West End streets and trust in His grace to make this a good place for me, my kids, my church family....that is being a real Christian.