As we tell our story to people and share the places where we have been there is often a sense of “I don’t know what to do with that.” Our upbringings were middle-upper class and we have found ourselves living in some places that have a lot of name recognition for not being middle to upper-class.
People who are in the second half of their life hear Watts and their eyes get big. Those in the first half of their life hear Oakland or St. Louis and their eyes get big. We have never viewed living in these places as a mountain to conquer but as a privilege to journey alongside our neighbors.
Several weeks ago, it was an exciting weekend because of the number of youth groups retreating at The Oaks. They were high energy and using our camp to the fullest. It is always fun when groups come and get outside and use the space we have here at camp. One of the groups was a more local group from Lancaster and was one of the higher energy groups. I really appreciated that they had many leaders with their youth and were very intentional with their plans.
I was standing in the food line welcoming guests and directing them to their seats. One of the leaders walked through the line; I did a double take and then slyly kept eyeing him because something caught my attention. There was a tattoo on his face. I got a better angle and noticed it was of a bunch of grapes. I had seen this tattoo before! I went up to him and asked where he was from and he said Lancaster. I knew that wasn’t where he was originally from, so I asked a better question, “Where are you originally from?” He said Watts and I knew he was from Grape Street. “Yeah. I grew up in Jordan Downs.” Jordan Downs is one of the four projects in Watts!
I went on to explain where we lived and we reminisced for one minute about the area. He said he spent most of his life in and out of “juvie” and prison and now he lives in Lancaster and is following the Lord and serving at the church that was retreating with at The Oaks.
It has been a privilege to live in the communities we have lived and be able to connect with men like these because of this common connection. We hugged and just said a few words of blessing to each other and continued to walk and serve in the places God has us currently.
Pray for this man and many others who have been labeled because of where they live, but defy everyone’s expectations of them and go on to walk humbly before the Lord and men.