What we can prepare our hearts - not through fear, or worry, but through integrity in our lives and with our words, valuing others needs, investing ourselves in the lives of others around us.

1) We’ve tried to continue to plant our roots here. About 10 months after we first moved in, 2 young men (19 & 24) were shot & killed not more than 30 feet from our front door.

Inspite of the violence, we made a choice then not to move out. We knew that nobody wants to live near violence, but also that violence wouldn’t leave if all of the good people left. So we’ve stayed & continue to build our life here.

God told the exiles in Jeremiah to “seek the welfare of the city” because if it prospered, they would,too. I’m trying to see that truth in practice.

2) We’ve been praying regularly for our neighborhood with a small group of 5-6 neighbors for the past 2-3 years. We’ve seen some significant change over the course of that time.

3) I write about my neighborhood on this blog - both to talk about the real issues & realities of the barrio, as well as to debunk a lot of the misconceptions & also false faith ‘responses’ to barrio issues.

4) I’ve been slowly growing in my understanding of the political and economic realities that shape our neighborhood, as well as interfacing more with the larger systems that impact us here - like the neighborhood council, the MTA, etc. Since my ministry focus isn’t primarily this neighborhood, I’m really trying to be “a good neighbor” here, not a superhero.

As such, some of how I interact with God is private & personal, but another part of how I interact with God is increasingly more public & social. Not sure I have “the answers.” Just some convictions I’m trying to live out.