Stopping Rats

Dear Inner Circle,

Trudging home the other night, I ducked down an unfamiliar alleyway, only to confront one of my few fears: healthy, glowing-eyed, aggressive rats. This growing inner-city problem, is at its worst a minor inconvenience for me, though more accurately offers others a chance to see me jump and scream like a terrified toddler.

Once, on Oxford Street, I was grabbed in a headlock from behind. The boozy breath and the sloppy cheek kiss quickly revealed my assailant. We greeted each other on the street with a big hug, turning the scene from ridiculous to outrageous for onlookers. He enjoyed playful wrestling and tousling hair, so I had to keep making noises to reassure the now frozen bystanders to his jovial intent. The sherry on his breath was as thick as his moustache. His arm, wrapped in a huge bandage, caught my attention. When I inquired, he paused and looked at me quizzically, “Do we know each other?” Now we were all confused, and for someone who didn’t spend his youth wandering the Cross, I chuckled at where life leads.  

The bloke set himself down and invited me to join him, sharing a dramatic tale of chivalry — how he had been injured while defending someone’s honour. Then he swung around, stared at me, before leaning in close, “Actually, I fell asleep, and someone put five pizzas near my head while I was passed out. The rats ate them all and then started in on my arm. I woke up to find one halfway through its meal.”   

Back in the alley, as I walked down my newly determined path to avoid any run-in with a rodent, I came upon one of our team members. She was sitting with a young woman in a state of total distress and pain, the likes of which I’d never seen before. We waited together for the ambulance to arrive. After encouraging my colleague to go home, I walked around collecting the woman’s belongings. Joined by another person, the one who had called paramedics, we chatted briefly. Stooped to gather some paperwork from the gutter, she said: “Please thank that lady if you know her. This poor woman has been in distress for a long time, and hundreds of people have walked past. Only she chose to stop.” 

There’s a deep value in stopping – and sometimes it can make all the difference for one life hanging in the balance. 

Thank you for being part of our Inner Circle, 

Jon

Rev. Jon Owen
CEO & Pastor
Wayside Chapel

P.S. Did you know that engaging with others – whether a playful tousle on Oxford St or a chat with someone (however gut-wrenching!) – positively alters your neurophysiology? We’ve launched a new campaign to empower Aussies to prioritise a minimum of 60 minutes of face-to-face social interaction each day. Find out more here.