Some friends at Leadership Journal were kind enough to ask me to write a monthly post for their blog, Out of Ur. This month’s post, Urban Exile: Following Jesus in the Face of Fear, went up today. It begins like this:
Pulling up to a busy intersection recently, my wife and I were startled to see a car with its rear windshield shattered. Out of the damaged car leaped a man with a baseball bat, yelling and chasing the two apparent perpetrators. As we slowly drove by, my wife reaching for her phone to call the police, we saw into the back seat where a young girl sat trying to make sense of the chaos that had erupted around her. Arriving at our apartment three blocks away I became aware of an emotion I hadn’t felt in a long time: fear.
In the next few days I hope to post some thoughts on the first third of Eugene Peterson’s The Jesus Way, tell you about our experience visiting a farm this weekend that exists to do some pretty interesting social services, and ask some questions about how Christians are responding to the Sarah Palin nominiation.
As always, thanks for reading.
David W. Swanson 
The questions about fear/safety/security/faith are huge. I enjoyed reading your thoughts at Out of Ur and was challenged to remember to seek God’s perspective on our daily circumstances, even from my vantage point of a small cottage in a dry, CA pasture.
nice post. I can relate moving to the city upon graduating from college… I have experienced a whole new range of emotions– fear, suspicion, confusion, judgment, racism. Its all real visceral and I don’t always have any control over it. But I guess in the midst of it tho, I’m thankful that it gives me a glimpse into my true self and as I sort out those emotional reactions and ask God to somehow mold me into more like Him as I deal with all that junk.
I’ve heard about a certain fear-inspiring donkey in that California pasture! 🙂
Andy- I can relate about the range of emotions city living brings up. I appreciate your perspective about the presence of God in the middle of it all.
David,
I moved to the suburbs to get away from that life style. That Belmot/Clark Intersection gives me the shivers… I once saw a fight with a steel chain – in broad day light – may I add. Good thing I fainted…
Hi David
Thanks for the thoughtful article. There is a strong fear/faith connection that moves us to prayer and dependence upon God. I remember well the two years that we lived in The Loop and the growth that came with it. This country girl was terrified most of the time. Realizing the need to be the hands of Christ to those who were suffering, yet understanding that some of those same people were capable of bringing great harm to us, did two things in me. Sidewalk encounters became opportunities for prayer (for their salvation and my safety) but also my own reaction to the raw humanity before me often caused me to look inward and understand the necessity for my own need for salvation and that I should perhaps pray for THEIR safety.
was anybody else really unsettled by the second comment down at the out of ur blog? and why is it that misanthropes are so well-represented in law enforcement and security?
it’s sad that the fact that that guy worked public safety at college didn’t really surprise me. i’ve known quite a few like him (most notably at the small and urban christian college where i met my wife). i just don’t think that they should have any dealings with the public.
Sue- Your final sentence really caught my eye and has stayed with me since I read it yesterday. Thanks.