Went through some serious struggles last week. It seemed like everything I tried to get done was much more difficult than it should have been. One of the big things that really de-railed me a bit was an incident with my car. I tried to jump start my step-daughter’s car and while doing so, the door on my car strangely shut on its own and the alarm locked the door automatically. It’s the only key I had, so I ended up messing with a wire coat hanger and tried to get the door open. After 30 minutes of not getting it unlocked, I had my wife call AAA and I went back to attempting to make it happen with the coat hanger. A lot of prayer and some cursing went into the effort, but in the end the guy from AAA came and got the door opened in about 45 seconds. Car had been running with doors locked for a little over an hour.
The thing that added to my frustration was the fact that I live on a cul-de-sac and there are about 7 houses on my street. During the time I was parked on the side of the street attempting to get my car unlocked, my neighbors worked outside or drove past me. None stopped to see if they could help or call AAA or anything. I was completely ignored.
Being the person that I am, if someone offered to help I would have probably stoically told them I was okay and thanked them for their offer, but no one even offered. Isn’t it sad that on a street of 7 houses, no one offers help or cares about my situation? Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in California, and probably other parts of the country as well. If this is the way things go in my neighborhood--and if it’s representative of what goes in my community--how will the message of becoming community through our church plant really be received well? If people don’t love their neighbor as they love themselves, what’s the point?
Rather than be discouraged, this is one of the positive things that came out of the whole incident with my car door closing and locking automatically. In their own minds, people have too much going on in their lives to look at spending time getting to know others. Additionally, some are too comfortable in their own little world to seek new relationships. I believe that Christ wants to unite us in fellowship with him and with each other. It’s a message that may fall upon deaf ears, but I can’t let that discourage me. In fact, it encourages me more to see that people are withdrawing more and that God may be using our ministry to draw them out and get them to experience community and love on a whole different level.
Dealing with our pain and struggle in isolation is never a good thing. Christian or not, we need to be in relationship with others. I’m hoping that we can help facilitate that in some small way so that at least a few can come to know the joy (and sometimes the pain) of living in community and caring for others, encouraged and encouraging, laughing and crying, learning to love. It is what I feel called and compelled to do. It is what I must stay focused on seeing through. It’s not about race…it’s not about social class…it’s about God wanting to love others through his people.
Is it a beautiful day in your neighborhood? Why or why not? Praise or prayer, let’s do our part to build a community of love through Christ’s love for us.
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Wow. That is kind of sad…
Here’s what Tami and I did to get to know our neighbors; every other week on Wednesday evening we had Taco Night. We cooked 12-15 lbs. of hamburger seasoned with taco seasonings and laid out all the trimmings (tomatoes, sour cream, lettuce, black olives, salsa, hot sauce, chesse, you name it). Then we invited the whole neighborhood and everyone else we knew, wide open, come anytime between 6:30 and 8:00. Eat here, take it with you, we don’t care, the only requirement is that you bring nothing, only your appetite.
We had anywhere from 12 – 35 people every time, and got to know a lot of our neighbors. Lots of great discussions, good connections, and some good will as well.
Last summer while I was in Peru a neighbor mowed my lawn for Tami. He said it was to pay for his taco.
Hi, Dave. I’m sorry that this happened, but then I’m not. Through your experience, God revealed a great Truth ~ we need each other. How can we be “one,” ALONE? Thank you for the reminder…
~Peace&LoveAlways~
David: Thanks for sharing your experience. As always, you took the lead and got things where as I had to see it happen first hand to realize I need to step up to the challenge. God is big in you, his love is supreme in your being, and it is an honor and privilege to call you my friend :)
Gina: Thanks for your kindness friend! No worries though, as I’m not sorry it happened, just a little frustrated and felt put out a bit, but I know that when things like this happen it is because something big is about to reveal a move of God in a huge way. It’s just an example of how I need to be better at staying on top of the things that can bring me down and seeking strength in the Lord to keep moving forward. It’s not for me, and I need to stay in the race to help others that Jesus wants to touch through me. Someone has to do it, right? Ha, ha :) As always, thanks for your encouragement and friendship :)
Sadly, this happens in the church a lot.
Samuel, I agree that it’s very sad. Hoping to see this change as people come with a heart of service rather than coming to be served.