Introducing to the Streets?

Forty years ago I was introduced to the streets of the city by a group of Young Christian Workers. It was in the days of the hippies and people were used to talking with strangers on the city streets on a Friday night. This group of young people would simply walk around the streets aware of the people around them and without proselytizing would chat with people and help out where they could.


Over the years attitudes on the street have changed and people are more suspicious of motives. So I have taken to wearing a fairly inconspicuous looking cross around my neck.

Anyway, I was carrying on the tradition in earthquake-affected Christchurch (NZ) last night when I got off the bus at the central hub. I turned to a youngish middle-aged woman with two young women in tow. They had obviously been talking quietly about me on the bus. I asked where they came from since their accents intrigued me. They told me the country and explained why I had not picked it.

Next, she asked me where I came from and I answered. Then she asked me if I had children. I told her that I hadn’t. Then she asked me about my wife. I was starting to get suspicious where this line of very friendly conversation was going. I thought that this is time to pull out.

Remembering the little wooden cross around my neck, I pulled it clear of my shirt and blurted out, “The People of God, they are all my children.” This was a rather odd thing to say. The woman suddenly said, ‘Lets go’ and the group disappeared in the opposite direction.

I wondered afterwards if this rather engaging woman was introducing two pretty young women to the streets, but for a different purpose than mine. Thank God for that little cross, whichever way.