Places

If I could say one thing about living in West Dallas for three years and serving in the most “dangerous” housing complex of Hearne for four, it would be this: I wish I could entirely re-write the narrative we hold around all the places we deem “unsafe” for people like me.

I wish you could know the deep beauty of the places I’ve been, how the very best parts of me have been shaped and refined and made alive in these spaces. I wish I could tell you of the families I’ve met, the neighbors who’ve loved me, the kids I’ve spent hours with searching the grass for ladybugs in the spring.

I wish I could ask forgiveness for all the sin of my own heart: the savior complex I’ve held, the fear I've allowed to grow based only on stereotypes and misconceptions. I can tell you this — as I’ve met my neighbors, I have only felt honored and loved and respected by them: safe. I would trust my life to almost any of the people I’ve met here, ever.

I wish you could know of the times I’ve driven into the neighborhood to find fathers washing their cars, mothers chatting outside. The times I’ve gone to basketball games utterly surrounded by dads cheering with passion for their children in places where “fatherlessness” runs rampant, how I’ve seen more “neighboring” in Hearne as people spend hours outside than in any other place I’ve ever been.

I was speaking to a boy from a homeless shelter in East Dallas (a place with a similar reputation as West Dallas) last week; in the course of the conversation, it came up that I live in West Dallas. He asked incredulously, “YOU stay in West Dallas? You’re kidding.” When I affirmed his statement, he followed his disbelief with this question, “And have you ever talked to the people there?” - with a tone of “Do you know the reputation? You’ve been safe?" I replied an adamant, “Yes - and these people are some of my closest friends.” His jaw dropped: “You’re ACTUALLY friends with them?”

The walls and divisions are everywhere, it seems. There are always reasons to distrust others from different spaces or parties or backgrounds - but really, the walls seem to be flimsier than I'd imagine, smaller than I believe once I find the courage to start to climb over.

I’m not sure what’s next for me: I’ve been apartment & house shopping with friends (let me know if you need a roommate!), and I might live in a “rich” area or a “poor” area, a “trendy” area or a “sketchy” area - and no matter where I live, I think this: I want to know my neighbors, actually know them. I want to love my neighbors, actually love them. I want to keep jumping over all the walls in my mind and heart. I’m going to keep fighting the stereotypes I know and the comfort I seek and the safety I cling to. I’m going to fall flat on my face a lot and say hurtful things and forget that life is better when I leave the door wide open. I’m going to try again and ask forgiveness and remember that the things Jesus said are better than anything else.

If you can, try it out: venture somewhere “unsafe” - I think you’ll find deep beauty, true joy, right there.

#Community #Racialreconciliation #Places #Friendship