Lighted Windows And Dark Alleys

Do you ever play "what if" with yourself? 

You know... that's where your mind starts wandering around looking for something to do while you're waiting for the light to change or the receptionist to call your name at the dentist's office. 

Waiting times. Boring times.

Maybe it's just a "writer's" thing... I dunno.  But my imagination starts to kick in when I don't have anything to do.  I make up scenarios and try to imagine what would happen..."if".

One day, some time ago, I  was playing the "bored" game and I saw myself walking down a street all alone...at night.  It wasn't a part of town I was familiar with. I was lost. And it was dark. No moon.  Just dark.  Misty...and dark.

I was so alone in the scene that it was creeping me out hearing the click, click of my shoes on the sidewalk. A dirty sidewalk with black spots of old gum and weeds pushing up through the cracks of neglect in the concrete.

It was weird. I wanted to stop the scene...but I wanted to find out what was gonna happen, too.  I'm like that.  I guess we all are. That's why we watch scary movies and read "page turners".

So there I was.  Somewhere I could hear the boomp-boomp-boomp of a rap song coming from car speakers that were probably worth more than the car.  A dog's incessant barking was punctuated with the wails of a distant siren and a cat fight was going on in the alley I just passed. 

This was not a good place to be after dark.  What was I doing there?   I had to find out. So I kept walking. Then I heard it.

An echo of the click of my shoes.  No... mine clicked. The other sound was a click-shuffle.

I stopped to listen closer. But when I stopped...it stopped.  Great... someone was following me.   I picked up the pace. The follower did, also.  When I stopped again...they stopped, too.

I went from fast pace to "jog"...and they did, too. 

Ok, this was not fun any more. I wanted to quit.   But I couldn't. 

That's when I realized this scenario was not being controlled by me.  I was having a vision. An open vision.  I've only had that experience four times in my life.  And this was the second one.

My heart was pounding and I could feel fear. Real fear. The kind that makes you talk outloud to yourself so you can think. 

The follower was gaining on me and I had to make some decisions...quick. I stopped. I had to catch my breath. I looked around to see where I could run to for help...

To my right was a dark alley.  A dented, dirty old trash can lay on its side with the putrid contents spilled everywhere. Broken beer bottles lay where they had been dropped and a rat scurried through the mess. 

To my left was a house. Old, but neatly fenced with one of those rounded topped wire fences they used at the turn of the century.  The porch had a swing and a basket of flowers in a hanging planter...and the light was on in the kitchen.

Suddenly, I couldn't move. My feet seemed glued in place. My heart was pounding so strongly in the vision that I could actually feel it in reality. 

I knew I had to make a choice and I had only seconds now.  I looked quickly to the right at the dark, disgusting alley...and then to the left at the lighted window and pretty porch.  And now, there was a lady in the kitchen.  She was placing a tea kettle on the stove...  and the stalker was nearly upon me.

Suddenly, I heard the voice of God in my heart asking me which way I would choose.

"Which way, Lord?", I asked, "which way? That's kind of a no brainer. I'd choose the lighted house in a heart beat."

"Yes", He replied. "But over and over again, My people choose the alley because they do not want others to know that they need help."

The vision ended then. But I never forgot it.  I think about it every time I ask someone at church, "how ya doin'?" and they say "fine...fine, how are you?"

I take an extra moment and look into their eyes to see if that's true. I linger a little and give them a hug...and sometimes I ask them how they "really" are.  And they tell me the truth. And we pray together. 

In that moment. I am the lady in the window of the lighted house...making tea.

Be kind to someone today.  Be the lighted house they run to.  You never know when someone is in that heart pounding place of decision.    Kate~

Comments

[Melissa~]

Why do I always run into the dark, stinky, alley???

Wow, this was a moving post. Doreen is right you *are* a wonderful writer. :)

{I'm going to make some tea now and turn the light on in the kitchen. :)}

[MAndy]

Wow, Kate. So true. This is such an inspirational. I think I'll stick a post-it on my mirror .. so that each time I dress each morning to head out to work, or begin my day, I'll be reminded of "Which path do you want to choose today... the dark alley, or the one that leads to the lighted kitchen.?
and....
Who am I going to turn the lights on for today? Who will I share a cup of tea with?"

Beautiful message Kate. Keep writing. Praise God.

[Renetta Novak]

That was awesome. Thank you for talking with my yesterday. It really helped put things in perspective. I appreciate you and your honest integrity more than you will ever know.

In case I haven't told you before you are a gifted writer. Btw...I have come up with my writers name. Call me later.