"The 9th Street Complex"

It was a cold,dark night in the unnamed metropolis. Among the many abandoned shops, clubs, and taverns stood a lonesome apartment building, which had such a notorious reputation that even law enforcement would occasionally turn a blind eye. "What is the point of this description?",some may ask. You see, although the area surrounding this apartment building was dark, decaying, and desolate, this particular night held an even more severe danger for those inside. For reasons unknown, the 9th street apartment complex was ferociously and hopelessly ablaze. Yes, it was completely set aflame, leaving hundreds of lives at stake.As the inferno ensued, an optimist drove by and gazed upon the sight."Well, that's such a hazard , but at least the flames will keep people outside warm and give us some light in this darkness." And with that he drove away. As fiery predicament continued, a pessimist walked by and also took a glance at this spectacle of a fearsome act.Shaking his head he thought to himself,"Of all the things this dump of a town needs, we have this? How many more bad things have to happen in this ghost town for someone to get this horrid place's act together? Some fire department we have, or should I say, don't have. What a crying shame" With one more look of disapproval, the pessimist walked away, mumbling to himself in disgust. As the flames grew larger, and while most of the building caught ablaze, an intellectual beheld the fiasco from his fourth story apartment window, only two blocks away."My my my." said the seasoned existential veteran."How can the owner of that building be so neglectful? He probably has a primitive mindset. You know, I would be willing to stake my entire reputation that he would have averted this issue entirely, had he simply taken any course with deductive reasoning. I pity that fool and his folly, which has become his downfall." With that last breath of condescension, the intellectual shut his blinds and returned to his thesis. At this point, the 9th street complex was hanging by its last thread, as rubble slowly trickled down like a dam on the brink of cataclysm. With no public safety anywhere in sight, the engulfed remnant of civility was reaching the end. While taking a reflective stroll, a man named Christian caught a view of the glowing powder keg that lay before him. With no time to speak, think, or hypothesize, Christan bolted to the base of the building and saw that the main entrance had been barricaded and locked. He frantically shoved the debris out of the way and broke the lock. As he swung the door open, he was nearly trampled as a sea of terrified people burst from the building. Like a happy ending movie, the frantic brood fled the flames just as the building collapsed on itself like a dying star. As the fire department arrived, the scene underwent damage control.Many  hours went by, and as the rubble was searched, it was concluded that nine people lost their lives, twenty two were injured, and miraculously two hundred and ninety one people were saved by our hero's deed. No one knows who started the fire and barricaded the door, or why. And even though nine people tragically passed away, all would have been lost had it not been for the opening of the door. In all actuality, bad things will happen in a world of darkness and despair. Was there a bright side to this? Yes(hundreds were saved). Was there a downside to this? Yes(some perished). Were there intellectually charged mindsets that could come in to question regarding the one in charge? Yes(maybe the landlord was an apathetic type who didn't have increasing entrance security on his "to do" list ). But did any of the three spectators move beyond these ideas? No. If we as humans do not use our gambit of logic and reasoning to do something that actually illuminates the darkness, then our minds and motives are useless;Utterly, and totally useless.This life has ups, downs, shallows, and deeps.And there will be problems on every valley and every street. But the essence of Christ is not to just think. It is think, feel, and do, when despair is at the brink.