Hiding out

 Brandon Robinson - 

We hide in private schools.

Only eat at Chick-fil-A.

Only shop at Hobby Lobby.

Stay on the “safe side” of town.

There’s nothing wrong with any of those things

in and of themselves.

But when our entire life is built around staying safe, 

We miss the people who are trapped there. 

How can we rescue people if we don’t go 

where they are held captive? 

We don’t talk to the homeless.

Or the addict.

Or the girl with the abortion.

Or the guy with the record.

Or the teen questioning their identity.

Or the man who smells like yesterday’s bottle.

We stay off certain streets.

We mute the friend who deconstructs.

We ghost the ones who wander.

We say “light can’t mix with darkness”—

but forget Jesus is the Light that entered it.

We say we’re “set apart.”

But really, we’re just absent.

How do we live the Word

while avoiding the very world

we were sent to love?

Jesus didn’t avoid the mess—

He walked straight into it.

Touched the leper.

Sat with sinners.

Ate with outcasts.

Chose the cross.

Holiness isn’t hiding.

It’s presence.

It’s proximity.

It’s being different- yes,

but still being there.

You can’t be salt,

if you never leave the shaker.