“When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.” Psalms 61:2-3

Stranger Danger

Walk His Way Revisited

First posted March, 2014

My husband and I were walking down a downtown street in Santa Cruz one weekend, looking for a particular bookstore. We walked for blocks along the sidewalk, storefronts lining the walk, people strolling in front and behind us. Street vendors displayed their goods on carts, calling us to come and look. Musicians set up jars or instrument cases for people to throw money into, as they played their music and sang, drummed, and strummed. It was just what you imagine a beach town to be.

In the midst of all this, a man sat in a wheelchair beside a tree. His hair was very long, unkempt, knotted and ratty with bits of grass and twigs in it. His dirty clothes had flies buzzing around; he was quite large, and had no legs. He was talking nonsense, and the smell of alcohol, grease, and sweat gagged me. I instinctively drew aside, made a wider path around him than was necessary, and continued past him.

Iʼm being transparent when I tell you this. To my shame, I didnʼt stop to share Jesus with him. I can hear you all saying to yourselves, well, he wouldnʼt have heard you; he was drunk; he was mentally ill or disabled; Iʼm a woman and heʼs a man; he isnʼt a safe person.

All those things may be true, but I can tell you this: it isnʼt the first time I have had to confront this reluctance in me–this fear of saying, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.”

Itʼs much easier to share Jesus with a seeker, someone who comes to church with ready questions and an open heart. But what if a person doesnʼt seem ready and willing? We donʼt share our beliefs, we wonʼt invade their space. If we think of it, we might pray for them–as we walk safely past. We want to feel safe at all costs. This is our God-given right.

Or is it?

I never feel safe around strangers. But I have to admit that I am only safe—EVER—as the Lord protects me. I can take every precaution available, but the Lord has His way. This sounds as if danger lurks around every corner, and death is always knocking at the door. I donʼt think this at all; but I do believe that, while it is prudent to be careful (as in, females shouldnʼt pick up male hitchhikers!), we need to trust the Lord and not ourselves for our protection.

God, You have gone to great lengths to show us that You can be trusted. Help us lovepeople, unafraid of their reaction, knowing that You surround us and live in us, but that our safety may be a secondary concern at any given time. May we be willing to give it all. In Jesusʼ Name, Amen.