We are more isolated today than ever. No, I’m not referring to COVID. We were already isolated before the pandemic. It takes time and effort to resist the isolating trends in our society. Now COVID is likely to solidify habits of isolation. Resisting this trend is especially difficult for those of us who are introverts, but the rewards are significant.
Just think of all the ways our cities would benefit if those who lived near each other started to become true neighbors—not mere acquaintances. In times of need your neighbors may be able to help you, or vice versa. We can look out for each other. And when there are problems, we just might be able to handle them ourselves instead of getting the police involved.
Developing relationships with neighbors should be a no-brainer—you probably see many of them on a regular basis already. Do you know their names? Maybe you did and forgot. They probably forgot yours anyway, so time for a fresh start. You can make a good impression on the neighborhood kids by being generous at Halloween. You can deliver home-baked goodies to your neighbors for Christmas as a way of spreading cheer and breaking the ice.
Of course, getting to know your neighbors isn’t a one-and-done prospect. It takes repeated efforts, and won’t always result in a friendship, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try. It can also be messy. Getting involved in other peoples’ lives means things that we might prefer not be known become known, such as marital difficulties or challenges with our kids. This is just as true for our neighbors, and may be a reason for reluctance in entering into relationship in the first place. Unlike work relationships, getting to know ones’ neighbors happens in and around their homes—where family members are present. That makes neighboring a unique way to build relationships. People are more likely to be themselves in their own home.
As Christians, we don’t become friends with our neighbors in order to convert them, but if we are genuine about who we are and what we care about, there is almost no chance that a neighbor won’t soon discover that you are a Christian. This raises the question, Do you live any differently because you believe in Christ? It also should cause you to ask yourself, Are you a good neighbor? If you answer either of these in the negative, it might be time to reconsider how you live. It won’t do any good for the kingdom if you are a lousy neighbor, but want to talk to everyone in the neighborhood about Jesus. Neighboring well opens up many possibilities for the Kingdom. If you feel like you need more information or inspiration, check out the book, The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon.
