seven eleven.

Your day just like every other. Your drowsy shadow traces each step. Finally home, you trudge through the door and down the photo hung hall. A dimly lit tunnel of memories, a memorial to family friends and life. Your house, your home. A familiar sight, with an accustomed smell.

Feeding your hunger your sole determination. You grasp the cold steel handle and creak open the gateway to a chilled and fresh fulfilment, a cove of delight and satisfied cravings, your hideaway from reality. Food, your medication and sedative.

Your long drawn days and sequential late nights have shown lack within your fridge. No dairy for your coffee and no bread for your butter. Your spoon has too many times scrapped the underbelly of the blue ribbon box. And your quick fix chocolate draw is nothing but paper and wrinkled tinfoil.

You hit the ground running. 7/11 in sight. Suddenly your dreary day falls into insignificance, you need not care for your inner feelings because you know within 2 minutes your safe place will be bound by reach.

He stares at you. Like he does every time. A long bewildered look, like a possum in the headlights. A silent cry, beckoning, gasping, wanting and seemingly somewhat helpless. 3 times this week he has looked the same.

Cash in hand you look through his need at the Cadbury chocolate stand behind him. Blankly and without cause you portray your need. Chocolate and chocolate now. Wait you cannot for the sweet taste and the theobromine to hit the blood stream. He scans, you pay. Transaction over.

2 years you have frequented the 7/11. Milk, Petrol, Bread, Icecream & slurpies your weekly addition. Have you ever actually asked his name? Wondered who he is or what he does? Yes you have noticed he is somewhat unkempt, but aren’t we all at times.’

Yes, you have a life too, and he has never asked how you are, or what you do. So why should you even begin to enquire about his empty stares and dirty clothes. What are the scars on his wrist anyway!? What is he? Emo? You pick up your short term sedation bar. Time to go home, Neighbours is about to begin.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Quite the emo example, but prudent to thought. So many times I have neglected the need and want for 'life' from others and replaced it with the need and want for instant gratification for myself.

Too often i think we attempt to turn life into a soapy, a popcorn munching junket of visual indulgence and create life size drama from bite size chocolate bars. Yes the above story is made up and yes it is rather played up, but how easily is it adapted to our own lives.

I know personally the countless times I have every right to be self focused, keep my head down and burrow in self pity. but we are not called to do so.

I love that we can walk in alignment with the Holy Spirit. each moment of each day, an opportunity to listen, learn and to possibly change a life.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

twitter

http://twitter.com/reubenskewes

a little bit of craig