Dirty Old Town – 16 February 2010
January was cold with lots of ice and snow. It was a dry, persistent spell of cold weather and will be remembered for varying reasons. For some it meant traffic jams, for others it meant being housebound, for others it meant unadulterated winter fun. I remember being struck by the sheer beauty that the snow brought; it carpeted everything in a clean, brilliant white, and the carpet stayed because of the prevailing north-easterly airflow. One thing that concerned me at the time was the perilous state of the footpaths which become skating rinks since they weren’t salted. Shouldn’t we expect the council to treat them? One of my neighbours remarked that in some countries there is a bye-law requiring all citizens to clear the snow and ice from the footpath in front of their homes. Great idea!
The thaw came – quite quickly as I remember – and while it was great to be able to get about one’s business normally, I realised again just how dirty and neglected our streets were: litter liberally strewn around, dog mess in abundance, and potholes erupting. Shouldn’t we expect the council to cure all these ills? Should there be a bye-law requiring householders to keep their frontage free from litter and dog mess? Great idea!
It strikes me that there’s a parable here: in a spiritual and social sense we are surrounded by a world that is dirty, messed up and broken. So often we complain that the government doesn’t care or that the council isn’t doing anything or that the church should be more involved. Should there be a bye-law requiring us as believers to “keep our frontage clean?” Great idea!
The fact remains that each of us has a unique role to play in this clear-up. Each of us has a unique set of neighbours, a unique set of work colleagues, a unique family network, a unique set of friends, and so on. Each of us is in a unique position to bring the love and mercy of Jesus to the individuals that God has placed us among.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the unique place I have in your heart. Open my eyes to the people around me so that I can show them your grace. Amen | 