Street Smart

There is something special about street smart people.  I am not talking about those who just survive on the street; I admire those who thrive in the modern era’s big city jungles.  The caricature of these men and women is a rough, hard exterior coupled with an aggressive attitude pervading every conversation, stance, and walk.  In my experience there is nothing further from the truth.  Those who survive on the streets rarely confront, always stand their ground (albeit quietly), and have a glint in their eyes that lets (warns?) you they are in the game.  I met someone like that this week.  It will be interesting to see where the story and journey takes their life.  Regardless of the good or the bad, there is much I can learn.
 
The contrast is often hard to swallow.  It isn’t that the person or his or her actions are hard to handle.  My difficulty lies in how obvious the motives are to anyone caring to observe.  It is as if the key attribute of their life rests in the ready willingness to hind behind the words and actions of others.  Conversations take on an accusatorial edge with words like “I have heard” and “others have said”.  This isn’t a new way of behaving.  Even when the blind man was healed the cowards reacted.  “They marched the man to the Pharisees.”  (John 9.13)  Not a street smart person in the crowd except possibly the one who could now see!
 
A key requirement in being street smart is the willingness to take the hits, weather the trash talk, and pay the game you have set out for yourself.  It is never easy and sometimes it is extremely difficult.  Doing on your own for a sustained period of time is impossible.  God knows this and has made provision for someone to journey with us.  Yet we can never just assume we are in the game, everything is working, and things will come to be.  Intent, desire, and commitment are all key ingredients. 
 
Is today one of survival or being smart?