Perspective

Just this week on our street, within view of our front porch, there was a drug bust and even more outrageous---the man across the street was caught shooting a police officer with a sawed-off shotgun, and his charges include 4 counts of attempted first-degree murder since there were four cops involved in the shoot-out.  Really.  A shoot-out.  And just down the road from us at the shopping center.  Within 1/2 a mile.  Seriously?

But I can't help but feel sympathy for the family left across the street, though. And was talking to the kids about it---how we can be angry about our neighborhood being violated, but still, it's people who're involved.    Not trying to sound too awfully precious about it, but there are two children at risk who would be in foster care otherwise (they live with their aunt/uncle since their mom is in jail) and the wife might be evicted if the landlord gets wind of it.  Figure it's just a matter of time.  One person's stupid mistake (and you can't help but call shooting a cop stupid) trickles down on so many people.

One of our boys questioned the wisdom of the kids staying with the aunt with their uncle in jail.  I figured that being with family was better than strangers.  I don't know.  The answers aren't, any of them, appealing.

Guess the Lord is helping me to see the real folks behind the stories.  Three families have moved on our street in the last 6 months or so, and with them, the entire mood of the street has changed.  We weren't sure why until these two episodes occurred.  Now it makes sense.  Crime really does penetrate further than you'd expect.  And is visible, even when it's hidden.

(the flowers for are for hope--figure it's best to think on the bright side)