I have a confession to make. I’ve been in my house for almost four years and I don’t really know my neighbors. I’m a bit embarrassed to say it!
Yes, we wave to each other when we leave the house or when we are in the backyard, but other than that, I don’t really know them. (I do know the dogs in the yard behind me bark constantly, which is less than ideal.)
This got me thinking about what it truly means to be a neighbor and to care for the people around me. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t mean just waving from afar! I went out in my backyard and waited for one of my neighbors to come outside, so I could hand them my contact information in case they needed anything. It took me about a day to catch up with them, but when I saw them, I ran inside and quickly grabbed my business card. When I handed it to my neighbor’s adult son, he looked at it and said, “I was baptized at Cool Spring way back in the day.” Wow! Imagine the connection and the conversation, that could have been happening over the past four years since I moved into the neighborhood. It was a bit of a punch in the gut.
I’d be naive to think that we would have talked daily. I know we all get busy. The times that I work outside and don’t see my neighbors far exceeds the number of times I do, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try.
This “unusual” time we are living in has forced us to slow down. I have seen more people and families walking, biking, and playing in my neighborhood than ever. It’s a wonderful thing to see! Let’s take advantage of it.
You and I are called to live boldly and to share our faith. A Jesus follower is someone who loves God and loves others. When we go out of our way to help others, we are living out our faith. We are loving our neighbors.
All of this to say: We have been working over the past few weeks to compile information to send you about what it means to be a neighbor. The information will contain new and creative ideas to reach your neighbors for the Gospel and ways we can offer help in this time of need. Be on the lookout for mail this week!
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in your house for one year or five years. Let’s make this time count!
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31 NIV
By Shane Standlick
