Church & Dope On Lawrence Street

Walked out front door. Hit with the smell of pot.

Walked down steps. Turned right. A man. Sitting on the stoop next door.

Thought of Staci's story about the man she saw on our stoop. "We know everybody who knows anybody who lives here and you're not one of them..."

She said it was for coke.

I said, "Good morning," to this man and kept walking. He looked... nervous? bland? numb? blank. not sad, mad.. just blank... not desperate or desolate just... there. Sitting on the stoop.

--I wished I had invited him to church.

I'm a woman, I rationalized. I need to be wise. Street smart. Ugh. So not fair--but what about women like Mother Theresa? and Harriet Beecher Stowe? 

Continued on my way to church.

@ intersection of Russ & Broad...An SUV.

The man inside pulled up and said, "Hey [something about being beautiful] can I give you a ride somewhere?"

I attempted to ignore him and keep walking. But he saw me better and said, "I know you!"

He pulled over.

"No, wait. Come here. I know you."

Assuming maybe he did know me from somewhere... a few possibilities passed through my mind... I  kept my distance but asked, "How do you know me?"

"What's your name?"

I didn't give it.

He thought I was  woman named Kathy. He used to do dope with her on Lawrence.

I told him I've never done dope but that I was on my way to church on Lawrence actually and invited him to join me.

"What church?"

@ the Lyceum. Redeemer Hill Church.

Every Sunday?

Yup.

A woman who looked like she was on her way to the Pentecostal church a few feet away walked by...

I hoped for a second she'd say something.

She didn't.

I excused myself by explaining that I was running late and needed to go...

Daydreams

Kelly T was just asking me about my daydreams... the things I pause to smilingly ponder... and for which (at times) I achingly long...

The following are some of them (in no particular order):

1. Performing & ministering around the world with Lights Up
2. Door of Hope Children's Mission (South Africa)
3. Return to Hungary...travel to/around Europe...
5. Leading worship for women's conferences
6. Flirting. Dating. Having fun with, getting to know, laughing with, crying with, falling in love with, and marrying a great God-fearing man
7. Children. A home.

The Insurance Capital of the World - I live here!

I have a new friend!

She just moved in next door with her hubs. They moved up here from Philly. They're from Pakistan. He and his friend just graduated with actuarial masters(?) degrees and got jobs at Travelers. Met those dudes yesterday and I whisked wifey up to Shiloh for a chat when I got home today!! :) :) I love her already.

Never knew this would be my life at 25.
Singer-actress/nanny/office-worker-by-default turned Program Manager/Executive Assistant. Living in Hartford. Working at an insurance agency in suburbia. Studying to take the CT licensing exam for Life and Health insurance agents/producers.
Singing and performing for the Lord and His people...and anyone else who happens to ask. Worshiping and walking with an amazing body of mission and community focused believers!  I knew I'd love city life... but I never would have imagined it to take this shape.  

God, you sure do work things out neat.

My Plan for Jennica at 25: 
Live in/near "the city" - NYC or Boston or DC
Be married to a "sugar daddy" (preferably military coughUSMCcough)
Have a Master's in Opera Performance
Actively auditioning/performing/competing/traveling
Being a light to the music/performance world
Attending a great church

Vs.

God's Plan for Jennica at 25:
Live in Hartford, CT
Single - but surrounded by amazing brothers & sisters in Christ - learning a lot about community and real relationships
Studying for a CT Insurance Provider's License
Actively touring/ministering with Lights Up Productions in Lost In Vegas
Singing on the worship team at RHC
Worshiping and serving with and within a great Christian family

Essentially the same yet divinely different.