Hi! Are you ok?

By Sylvia Gaston

That’s what I’m going to say to my neighbors – first in a note, then . . . who knows?

You see, this is a great time to get to know my neighbors.

No, I didn’t just move in. I’ve lived in the same house for 28 years and I’ve had the same neighbors on each side of me for that entire time. Recently, one neighbor moved and I’ve barely gotten to know the family that bought their house. We know 3 of the families who live a little further down the road but not really well.

As Christians, we are to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus. He went out of his way to care for the poor, sick, and outcast. Jesus was all about relationships. In fact, He told His followers that the only thing more important than loving our neighbors is loving God. He also said that people would know we were Christ-followers by our love.

I’m more than a little embarrassed that I know so little about the people who live on my street so I am committing to take advantage of this dumb pandemic and do things that either A) I haven’t done in a long while, or B) I’ve never done.

In the “A” category, I have done 4 jigsaw puzzles with my family, ridden my bike for the first time in YEARS, and am painting my kitchen cupboards (yikes!).

In the “B” category, I hope to finally learn at least one song on the piano and to get to know about 10-15 of my neighbors.

My plan is to tape a note to their doors (while wearing gloves) and introduce myself and my crazy family. I will probably include a practical gift of some sort to bless them. The note will begin with “Hi! Are you OK?” and then I’m not so sure what comes after that. What I want to say, though, is . . . isn’t this is a great time to get to know each other and be there for each other? You know, be neighborly.

I have so many ideas rolling around in my head about where this might lead:

-       Encouraging notes to one another?

-       A community mailbox for prayers and prayer requests?

-       A social media group or newsletter?

-       Meet each other’s practical needs (groceries or grocery runs, errands, financial help, yard work)?

-       Share surplus goods (i.e. we will have waaaay too many tomatoes in a few weeks)?

-       Invite each other to our houses to watch church online together, once we’re able (of course, 10 or fewer people with health precautions)?

But, of course, this all depends on how, or if, my neighbors respond. I pray it leads to some great relationships and a good old-fashioned support system.

Life On Mission

by Candace Cortez

When this article reaches you, I will be on a short-term mission trip to Central America with 9 other young people from my church family. As a church, we believe in both local and global missions, because Jesus told us to ‘go unto all the world and make disciples.” As I mentally and physically prepare for another experience serving and sharing Jesus’ love with another community, I am counting the lessons learned by saying yes to these opportunities.

Loving is easy when you’re not in your regular context.

There’s something special about getting out of your regularl scheduled life to focus on love others. This lets me know that sometimes I have made my life too busy to be aware of opportunities to love “in real life.” I am reminded to slow down.

God is everywhere.

I do not have the edge on what living for the Lord looks like, and how He chooses to reveal Himself. When you get to worship, serve, and create communities in places different than what you’re used to, it is a great reminder that God is in places you least expect Him.

Living on mission is a mixture of intentionality and sensitivity.

If we don’t make it a priority, caring for others will not often make its way into our lives because caring for others is not always convenient. It often took Jesus out of His way, and we need to expect the same for ourselves. But even in the unplanned moments, are we staying sensitive to when God is giving us a window to shine through in someone else’s life? Do it on purpose, and make sure to stay open to those unexpected moments to serve.

Loving people is work.

That is all I have to say about that!

The work of loving people gives life.

Some of my favorite moments in life have been the feelings of joy and comradery of a time of hard work for someone else. Those conversations when I was able to encourage, help or share the gospel make life feel at it’s best.

My neighbor is both next door and across the globe.

I love loving the people in the communities in other countries, and it reminds me how easy it can be. I am reminded that showing love to those in close proximity is often a challenge, but is just as valuable as loving those around the globe.

I have enough time to love others if it is a priority.

Just like everything else, if it matters, there is time. Some people confess to being too busy to pause to help, serve, or encourage others. But I think there is something incorrect about our pace or priority if helping others doesn’t make the cut, and we may need to make some adjustments.

I am able to do more than I thought I could.

I feel so limited by my lack of knowledge, actual skills, etc. During these mission trips, when you are squeezed without the normal resources of our comfort zone, I am surprised by what I am actually able to do. I have poured concrete, bandaged wounds, taught messages in different languages, and worked past exhaustion to help others, none of which would have happened if I didn’t say yes to doing whatever it takes for the mission.

In my failures, God is still making things happen.

Because we are often asked to do those things beyond our own abilities, mistakes will be plentiful. I am so reassured, that even if I slip up, if bad attitudes reside, if I say the wrong thing if I forget things, God does His thing, sometimes even more beautifully than if I got it right.

Serving next to people creates community on a new level.

I have memories with people that I will remember for the rest of my life. We may not always connect in our normal context, but serving in a focused way together brings the Church together. 

My prayer for all of us is that we wake up each morning, with the intention of making disciples of those in our world. This may be your children, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers. Making disciples is sometimes slow work, but it literally changes the world. God has called you today, to love someone in a way shows them Jesus. For some of you, God has placed a big idea, one that is sort of scary, and may be bigger than you. Start working on it! For some of you, God has placed a burden in your heart for a certain situation, or group of people. Find out how to serve them! You are the only you He made, and He desires to use all of us in this mission.