Living in the Alley

Can you imagine life in an alley -- your world limited to the sights and sounds of that one place? Can you identify with your access to the outside world as a line of back doors, garbage cans and weed-filled culverts? Can you imagine what you would think about the world if only the alley were your world? Would you find the rats or roaches crawling through the garbage interesting? Would you find the discards of those who threw away their trash the center of your world? Would you wonder at the way of life seen through the garbage of those people? Would it reveal their habits and lifestyles, their addictions or their sufferings? Would the world of the alley reveal the sounds of those so nearby who struggled with life in ways that were obviously less than ideal? Would the views from the alley also reveal the good and the happy and the delight of those whose lives were full and joyous and marked by love? Would living in the alley allow you to see that even in the worst of times there were good times and even in the best of times there were struggles? Would the sights and sounds of the alley reveal the call of mothers to their children to gather for food and would it reveal the bitter curse of another toward one who certainly was at that moment far from being loved? Would the experience of the alley tell the story and then again tell another because of the many points of view it offered? Whether you live in an alley or not, you can be sure that the nearness of your life to others is never so far removed that you do not share the need of God’s love and mercy. The realities of our days are shared with those throughout time and history…we live and move in ways that need the direction of God to guide us. We have limited access to other people at times, like living in an alley, but we do not have limited access to God. The good news is that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
But then we are reminded of something else…”How are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent. …So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:14-17)
People in alleys or people in homes or at work or at play need the message of Jesus Christ. It takes someone willing to go to them to bring the good news. Are you willing to take the good news of God’s love to those near you? Will they ever hear of Jesus if all they know is the world right up your alley?