Being a Prophet Sucks, or, 'anyone got a bullet proof vest I can borrow?'

So... update on the neighborhood drama. I will actually try to write happy blogs soon, btw.
Today I was talking to the teenage girl who lives next door to Kayla, affirming her how proud I am of the decisions she's making in life, b/c who couldn't use a little affirmation, especially at age 15?!

Then Kayla's mom got home after her weekend away. I was walking home but felt something inside me stop me in my tracks and literally turn my body a 180 and walk to their driveway. Dangit, I hate feeling awkward like this. What am I supposed to say, "do you know where your kids were last night? I do." That's awkward. But if I were a mom, I would want to know the truth about my kids from concerned neighbors too, so I went for it. The ensuing conversation/confrontation made me cringe inside and the mom cry with all the emotion of someone who loves their kid desperately yet feels hopeless to change her. After a while I said, "I come from a divorced home and was left alone a lot in high school too, if she wants anyone to talk to about her frustration/choices, I'm available for her."

We parted ways and I went home, doubting myself every step of the way. Did I do the right thing? Should I have let them alone and not 'tattled?' Once inside I closed the blinds and wanted to hide, fearing Kayla's wrath for ratting her out. Carlos called me on it, saying, "let me get this straight, you're afraid of a 14 year old?" I was thinking, "she's not just an innocent 14 year old. She hangs out with gang-bang-y type vatos. They're not people that would t.p. your house, they're the kind of people who could vandalize your house or hurt somebody." Considering that we just put our house on the market, AND we're both going to be away from the house next week, that could be problematic; I mean, I'm just not sure what kind of can of worms I've opened here."

Carlos just smiled at me. Once I calmed down and saw my fears for what they were, I realized that everything is probably going to be fine, and hopefully I can talk to Kayla tomorrow or soon, and let her know that I am concerned about her and talked to her mom out of love for her. In any case, my 'take-away' from all of this is perspective on what the Biblical (and subsequent) prophets must have faced. It is SO uncomfortable to be in that role. I would have much rather just gone in the comfort of my own home and eaten dinner, without that interaction. One of my favorite pieces of Scripture is when the prophet Jeremiah tells God he would rather be dead than have the role in society that he has, but then he has this revelation that if he tried to keep truth inside, it would be like a fire in his bones, consuming him, and he knows he just can't keep it contained neatly, he has to share it. And that's how I felt as well, so I know I did the right thing. It's just too bad that the right thing to do in life is rarely the easy thing.