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Hello, everyone!
I live in an apartment building occupied by maybe ten different people - everyone is single except for two relatives who live together in one apartment. It's not a huge building, but people keep their distance for whatever reason. I hardly ever see the other residents, but even when I have and attempt to say hello, they just kind of look at me and keep walking in the opposite direction. So it's sort of sad sometimes.
Anyway... the walls are very thin and there is a hallway on the other side of my bedroom. One day I thought I heard a very muffled conversation out in the hallway and picked up enough of it to gather that someone had possibly died. But it was so quiet that I forgot all about it.
Various changes occurred, such as a missing vehicle, that led me to believe what I heard was correct. So I was a little sad about that, but not having ever hardly met any of the other residents, it didn't hit me that hard.
Then, I recently found out that not only did a person die, but someone committed suicide... And now it's obviously way sadder than before and now I feel bad that I haven't been more intentional on trying to get to know others.
But, everyone is as closed and suspicious as ever. One man refused to open his door the first time I knocked on it and I still hardly ever see anyone except when they make a beeline for their cars...
I'm personally not convinced that God put me in this building in order to try to convert everyone. Actually, I was struggling to recover from spiritual burnout when I moved here, so what I really needed was some time alone myself! Still, I can't help but wonder if I could have prevented that suicide if I had been more proactive... At the same time, what good would I be if I ignored my own needs and burned myself out further...?
I'm just struggling with if it's okay to take a break from more "extroverted" ministry even when those around you are still dying and lost? Pray that God will give me peace and insight about this.
Also pray for this man's relatives since I'm sure it was a shock to them.
I live in an apartment building occupied by maybe ten different people - everyone is single except for two relatives who live together in one apartment. It's not a huge building, but people keep their distance for whatever reason. I hardly ever see the other residents, but even when I have and attempt to say hello, they just kind of look at me and keep walking in the opposite direction. So it's sort of sad sometimes.
Anyway... the walls are very thin and there is a hallway on the other side of my bedroom. One day I thought I heard a very muffled conversation out in the hallway and picked up enough of it to gather that someone had possibly died. But it was so quiet that I forgot all about it.
Various changes occurred, such as a missing vehicle, that led me to believe what I heard was correct. So I was a little sad about that, but not having ever hardly met any of the other residents, it didn't hit me that hard.
Then, I recently found out that not only did a person die, but someone committed suicide... And now it's obviously way sadder than before and now I feel bad that I haven't been more intentional on trying to get to know others.
But, everyone is as closed and suspicious as ever. One man refused to open his door the first time I knocked on it and I still hardly ever see anyone except when they make a beeline for their cars...
I'm personally not convinced that God put me in this building in order to try to convert everyone. Actually, I was struggling to recover from spiritual burnout when I moved here, so what I really needed was some time alone myself! Still, I can't help but wonder if I could have prevented that suicide if I had been more proactive... At the same time, what good would I be if I ignored my own needs and burned myself out further...?
I'm just struggling with if it's okay to take a break from more "extroverted" ministry even when those around you are still dying and lost? Pray that God will give me peace and insight about this.
Also pray for this man's relatives since I'm sure it was a shock to them.