On the morning of August 2nd I woke up early to see strange flashing of lights on my neighbor's window. As is my routine, I headed downstairs, opened the blinds and windows to let in the morning coolness. However, this morning was different. I soon realized that the flashing lights that seemed so out of place were coming from several police cars right next door. I then noticed the police tape from my house all around the neighbor's house. Realizing something was wrong, I stepped outside to ask a policeman if everything was alright, to which he responded, "If you mean a kid getting shot, then no." I couldn't believe it! After probing a little more I learned that there was a drive-by shooting that night at 3 in the morning. Somehow Shelly and I slept through that one.
Since moving into our house April 1st, this was the second act of violence to take place right next door, literally. Reading my Bible that morning I was meditating on Isaiah 60:18 - "Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders. But you will call your walls salvation and your gates praise." Sitting on the front steps, watching the police action before me, reflecting on this Isaiah passage, I was struck by the realness of the kingdom of this world and the Kingdom of God. The kingdom of this world is broken and far from God. It is a kingdom bent on serving ourselves and living for our own glory. It is a kingdom where we think living for ourselves and the promises of this world will give LIFE, HOPE, JOY, SATISFACTION, but we are never satisfied, only left longing, hungering, and starving for more.
Notice the pictures below... I didn't capture the scene as well as I would have liked, but this particular morning was a reminder to me of the war between these two kingdoms. This house next door is falling apart... weeds grow in place of grass except for the dry dirt patches where not even weeds will grow... there is suspicion, violence, and chaos. But if you could look close you would notice that on our side of the property line there is grass, life, order, and creativity. Now I say this with some amount of hesitation as my intention is not to exalt ourselves and degrade our neighbors. I share this to offer a real picture of the reality of the Kingdom of God. For me, I was encouraged in my heart that this kingdom, the one of this world, is not worth living for and that my family and I will strive for the Kingdom of God. I was encouraged to believe all the more that Jesus truly does offer the things the world promises to give , but only He alone can deliver. It is in Christ that we find LIFE, HOPE, JOY and SATISFACTION... and not the world. If only we will open our eyes we will see the reality of this world... hunger, sickness, brokenness, shame, disease, death, crime, empty promises... you get the point. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).
I am happy to say that the young man that was shot will be okay, or so we hope. I hope and pray that this event will lead to a greater longing and hunger for the Kingdom of God...
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