One of the things I have realized recently is how little I know my neighbors. By neighbors I literally mean the people next door. When I moved out of the home in Sugar Land, I cleared out my cell phone contacts to help simplify my life a bit. I found the following contact: Neighbor and then a number. I think this is the gentleman who lived to my right, but I am not positive.
I actually am not even sure how I got the number. I think it happened during Hurricane Ike. We lived in a neighborhood that did not get electricity until almost three weeks post storm. I think one day in the midst of that, this gentleman and I exchanged numbers.
I don't have a name, thus this number would probably do no good.
It's sad that I lived next to this man for 3 years and literally know nothing about him.
If we take the Gospels seriously, then we take people seriously. People are important in our souls because people are important in God's soul.
In the Gospels we are commanded to love our neighbors. I imagine that most days Jesus is shaking his head, crying out to us, "Don't you get it? By neighbor, I meant everyone.... and this does actually include your neighbor, the person you live life right beside."
You are all probably better at this than I am, but if not begin to make an effort to know your neighborhood. Know the people who live life around you. In sharing life with them, you might just be able to share your heart as well.
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