Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/805155
In the hymn "Joy to the World," one phrase always stands out to me: "He's come to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found." When I experience the effect of the curse, I pray His blessings will flow over the people and places affected by it. Then I look for ways to be an extension of His blessing. Living as a person of blessing requires agreeing with my identity as a child of a very good King and living out of His good for the good of others. A few years back, I woke up in the middle of the night. Red and blue lights shone through my window. I got out of bed, put on some street clothes, and made my way to the front of my house. There I found 12 police cars, an ambulance, and a fire truck. Most of the neighbors were out front seeking information about what was going on. I made my way to a group of women who were huddled together. I was new to the neighborhood and thought to myself, What better time than the present to meet the neighbors? As I made my way to join the women, I was greeted by one of the boys who lived next door. He was very troubled and muttered a few cries for help as we passed one another. The emergency vehicles had gathered for a drug bust on my street. Four people were arrested, each a parent, and the children were left out front after midnight, awaiting the arrival of help as they watched their parents taken away. I asked if help was needed but received no answer, so I headed inside where I asked God to protect the children and change the story of my block. I pray that God will bless my street with His good, His beauty, His grace, His kindness, and His peace. I stayed awake for some time, wrestling with how to respond and whether or not I needed to assert myself to help these young ones. I listened to make sure all was taken care of and heard that help was on the way. I struggled: "Lord, I know you are Savior, and it's not my situation to save, but how am I to respond? Am I supposed to simply wait or is there more?" I prayed and waited. The next morning, another couple packed up a moving van and left. The story of my block was marred by the curse of darkness. I asked the Lord once again how I was to respond. I asked that God would bless my block, removing evil and bringing new life. 20 SPRING 2017 CULTURE Fresh-Baked Blessings Extending God's kindness across the street. Jupiterimages/Thinkstock