Love Your Neighbor

“Hey, I have a meeting tonight. Can you tape our show?” I asked my neighbor as we both headed toward our cars.

I don’t yet know my neighbor’s political views, religious beliefs or childrearing philosophies, but we do share an interest in the same TV show. It is a good starting place for a friendship.

Eleven homes and one apartment building comprise my corner of the world. “For sale” and “For rent” signs go up and down, as do the moving vans on the street, especially in the spring and fall. We are a transient culture, but even if there’s quick turnaround, we all have neighbors.

Whether your address belongs to one building, part of a larger complex, a college dorm, a rural lane or a military unit, others share the turf with you. Though you might end up only knowing a few neighbors well, they are a part of your world.

The neighborhood community of previous generations seems nostalgic. Most of us are scrambling just to find more time to talk to our kids let alone our neighbors. A wave on the way to the car, a summer chat over a fence or a casual conversation at a condo association meeting may seem all we can manage most days.

“Love your neighbor.” Do you ever wonder what Jesus had in mind for your block? In the 25 years we have been on our corner, we’ve used the following ways to reach our neighbors:

Bedtime prayers. I read about someone who would mentally go up and down the street when she couldn’t sleep at night and pray for her neighbors, even the ones she hadn’t met. Prayers for blessing, health, strong families and spiritual renewal are effective ways to be a good neighbor.

Feed the hungry. A meal for a family with a new baby, a loaf of banana bread for someone moving in and a glass of iced tea for a mutual dog walker have all been easily offered and gratefully received. I try to have something on hand so I can be ready when a need arises, which it often does.

Lend a hand — or a shovel, a couple of eggs or a good recommendation for a plumber! Often I start the exchange by being the borrower. I ask for gardening advice or a certain spice only to discover not only doors, but also hearts opening during the exchange.

Share the celebration. Fun can abound in a neighborhood! We received an invitation to a watermelon party to meet some new neighbors last summer. Other friends show movies on the side of their garage for the locals. When a lady on the block finished her graduate degree, we were all invited to celebrate with her. We had a fun ice cream social in our back yard to commemorate 20 years of living on the block. Most of these events did not involve elaborate food, expense or housecleaning, but they were great opportunities to connect.

Spread the Word. When I wanted to learn how to be a better mom, I invited other moms from the neighborhood to join me over coffee and book discussion. The next book we discussed was the Bible and its view on parenting. A couples group emerged from that group, and more groups followed.

Good neighboring still happens one on one. Often a listening ear is the best way to love your neighbor. I’ve listened to many stories of parents in pain, job distresses and bad health reports. These outpourings, sometimes spontaneously offered, often lead to prayer and changed lives.

Our kids are grown and mostly gone now, so the days of hanging out on the sidewalk are few. The mom down the street who used to push her own children around the block in an old buggy now strolls with her grandchildren. The little boy on the block now has his Ph.D. Homes are remodeled, fences added and newer cars replace older ones. Yet in spite of the changes in the neighborhood, the command to love those in it still stands.