Loading...Jeff and I have been in our house for just over a year now. We are still opening boxes and looking for things we need. We are adding to our to-do list almost as fast as we cross something off that list.
There are the things done and the things left undone. Not only on that to-do list, but in our lives. When we give our life and labor to the Lord, there always seems like there is more to do to live and love like Jesus.
This morning, I walked around the neighborhood. Early. Which, if you know me, you know that an 8:00 journey up and down our street is nearly unheard of! But…today was the neighborhood garage sale. Shopping wasn’t my purpose. It was getting out and meeting neighbors. Trying to build community right here. Desiring to be present, open, and friendly.
There were plenty of garage doors open and tables full of items to be purchased. People drove up and down the street trying to find bargains on things they may or may not need. Homeowners were striving to reduce and recycle things rather than filling landfills. Some plan to donate what they don’t sell. They were focused on their tasks.
They may not have expected me to come up and chat. To introduce myself. I think I surprised a few people.
But I really believe that to have a good neighborhood, I have to be a good neighbor. I cannot stay inside my house or bent over a garden or linger on the deck in the back of the house and hope that I can get to know the people who live right up the street.
Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Sometimes, it is the people in our neighborhood, with whom we live and have our communal being, who we forget to get to know. Building neighborhood communities may not make it on our to-do list.
Maybe it’s because we consider our homes our sanctuaries, our places of respite. Perhaps it is because we have people in other places in our lives (work, organizations, the gym) and we focus on those communities, or we are so busy with our home and family responsibilities that we just don’t have time to make time. We forget to make time to love these neighbors.
But I have found that unless I make this a priority—and this is part of loving myself—I will be missing something that can mutually feed and grow into something beautiful.
One of the neighbors offered to share some of her perennial ground cover plants. Another gave a referral to consider if we want to fix our very dead riding lawn mower. Others told me about their recently deceased parents and pets. One asked if I knew anyone who needed a car (do you?). At one home I was offered a mimosa, bourbon, and donuts. Last weekend, a group of neighbors invited us to join them at their little street party.
These are the seeds sown and scattered that help me feel like I can belong to this community. I think this is one item on my to-do list that can never be crossed out.
With hope,
Rev. Debbie+
