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I love my new home. Great house, awesome area, surprisingly diverse suburban neighborhood. So why did I call the cops on my neighbors the first night I spent in the here?
Well, contrary to some rumors, Madre is not a grouchy old lady who likes to shake her cane at rascally kids who cut across her lawn or call the cops on teenage parties as soon as the sun sets. But it was a beautiful summer night and I was sleeping with the window open, so I couldn't help noticing that the quiet was disturbed.
When I heard the screeching tires outside, I peeked out from my bedroom blinds to see what was going on.
I saw a car. No big deal there.
But what was more than a little unnerving was that I could also hear the muffled yelling of an argument, clearly a very loud one, going on between the young male and female occupants of the car. Also not that big of a deal. I am quite familiar with loud car arguments.
I had just decided to back away from the window and let them have their fight in "private" when I saw the young man reach across the car and proceed to slap and punch the young lady.
Big deal.
I immediately dialed 911. They got out of the car and he chased her around it, both of them yelling and screaming, as I talked to the operator. I understand that this sort of thing happens from time to time in many relationships. Not in front of me.
Soon after my call, I was relieved to see three police units and an ambulance show up at the house across the street. The fight was already over and the young lady had driven away, but the police had a few words with the young man who lives there and his mother.
Some people would say I overstepped my bounds. Just who did I think I was to involve myself in the private affairs of my neighbors? It's none of my business. What kind of message does that send to my new neighbors about me?
What would you have done?
 October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. Similar to the red ribbon for AIDS awareness and the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness, the symbol for domestic abuse awareness is the purple ribbon.
Why observe an "awareness month"? Why write missives about it? Because the statistics are overwhelming for the amount of attention it receives. No one likes to talk about it. It's much easier to ignore, especially when you don't know anyone who is being hurt by it.
But I'd be willing to bet that every person who reads this missive knows someone who has been a victim of domestic abuse, whether you're aware of it or not. It might even be you.
So let's take some time this month to become aware of something we'd rather not; to learn about abuse, what it looks like, how to identify it, how to get help, and most importantly, what it means in our relationship to our heavenly Father who loves us and only does good for us in Christ.
Edited on: January 31st, 2009 1:25 pm
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