Pray
September 14, 2005
Recently one of our pastors took an early morning bike ride in the heart of our mission field. Her reporter's eye gives you a glimpse of daily life in the place that we live and minister.
On a bike ride early this morning, I stopped at the parking lot used for street church to spend a few minutes praying. Standing against the chain link fence along one side of the lot, and praying with my eyes open, I observed several things.
* An older man driving a BMW dropping off a young man with a backpack at the parking lot.
* One man chasing another down Yoakum, screaming at him.
* Two drug deals – one seeming to involve cash, the other what appeared to be a car stereo.
* A young man carrying a baby walking with a young woman pulling a small piece of wheeled luggage.
* Random individuals walking past.
* A car pulled into the parking lot near me and the driver stared at me for several minutes while keeping the engine running. Thinking perhaps my presence was unwelcome, I got back on my bike and continued on my way.
I’ve started riding again in the early mornings, and although I see homeless adults and kids on the sidewalks and along the streets (there are always people in front of the condom shop on Montrose near Westheimer) this is the first morning I’ve stopped for any length of time at the parking lot.
None of the scenes I’ve described were in any way new to me, but as it was around 6 am, I was surprised by the busyness.
These snapshots of life in Montrose as the sun was rising certainly informed my prayers and I hope they will inform yours as you pray for us.