worthless fear

I have a good chuckle pretty regularly at the irony of these situations. My post man doesn't like to leave packages outside "in this area" and many outside people seem stunned at the fact that one would choose to live where I have due to it having more risk than maybe, Upland. They "don't want to hear gun shots at night" or "are you safe!?" are things I have heard unsurprisingly.
But when I'm not talking to people who aren't familiar with the area, I'm usually in my home or at MICO enjoying decorating the MICO house with my neighbors, chatting with a friend I made from across the street, seeing the kids throw snowballs at my car laughing, and having a man who happens to live at the "marked drug corner" hollar over that he already shoveled my walk for me. Community. I love it here.

How can we approach the stereotype that areas like this get, and then be sure we correctly and respectfully approach all who happen to have an address in that location that we may want to get to know?

I confess, While more eventful things may happen on my block periodically than that do in a small, quiet town - I still assure, there is no validation for any form of fear.

So many more thoughts... but none that are able to form and match what I really feel.

Dig into Scripture always. God is so good and powerful.