‘The house is surrounded,’ said Winston.
‘The house is surrounded,’ said the voice.
(George Orwell, “1984”)
Today I experienced something interesting. I was walking down the alley in Chatham. I was walking slowly. And that was the problem. I was repeating the verse of Scripture, namely Isaiah 43:1-3, as something scary happened. The brown small car pulled over. A man came out of it. I crossed the road. He crossed the road also. I thought he lives in the house on that side of the road but I was wrong. He showed me the badge and the conversation started.
– Hello sir. We saw you slowly walking there by the alley.
– Hello.
– Why are you walking there? – He stared at me.
I was so startled. I answered all the truth and nothing but the truth. I felt this was not a time for jokes.
– Yes, I was walking there slowly, because it is my habit. I was learning a verse of Scripture by heart.
At this point I show him my phone with that verse of Scripture on the screen. He looks intensely.
– Why are you learning the verse of Scripture by heart?
– Because I go down there to Cornerstone City Church and…we do that. Is it forbidden?
– No, it’s all right. But I have to make a report of why I stopped you.
Suddenly I see his helper who already is by his right side. They are both dressed in casual clothes. Only now I remembered that not so long ago the police in London shot a black guy who supposedly had a gun and didn’t make a single shot at the authorities. This is nuts.
Further goes the routine questions. He asks my name. I spell it for him. He asks for my address. I tell it as well.
He fills down everything to his squared notepad, snaps the strap on and says that he is sorry for troubling me. That’s the story.
Hmm….Big Brother wants to know more about me. Yesterday he inquired whether I use smartphone and/or tablet. (Remark: The call was from here.) Today he watches what Bible verses I study on my smartphone. Pure coincidence.
As I come to my door I say by heart:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you.When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, and through the flame, it shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isa.43:1-3)
Lessons I’ve learned:
1. Fear not because I am with God, redeemed by Him and belong to Him.
2. Walk faster.
3. Do not go slowly through living areas, just go around those places, it’s safer that way.