By the Way: Meet, and love, thy neighbour
By Medicine Hat News on February 16, 2019.
The other night my wife (Darlene) and I watched the biography of Mr. Rogers on Netflix. It took me back to watching some episodes as a young boy, and also watching reruns of Mr. Rogers with my sons. I think we all know the theme song of his show, which included the phrase, “won’t you be my neighbour.” To summarize Jesus words, in Matthew 22:37-38, we are to love God and to love our neighbour. Jesus is indicating that we are to love everyone, since everyone is our neighbour. Lately, I have been thinking what makes a good neighbour. No easy answers, but here a few of my thoughts. A good neighbour is someone who is willing to love others. A good neighbour is also someone who is willing to share – share of their time, share of their resources, share their home. Not easy in my opinion. According to ATB Financial, in their daily economic email The Owl, Medicine Hat is below the provincial average in giving to charities (dated Feb. 12, 2019). But giving to charity is not the only way to give. We can have neighbours in for meals, buy someone coffee or a meal, donate food to the food bank. A big part of loving our neighbour is generosity. Generosity can look different to different people. It could mean giving to local charities. It could mean having people in our homes or creating block parties. It could be volunteering of our time. It could mean inviting strangers to join us. The Bible is clear – we are to welcome the stranger in our midst. To make them feel at home in our presence. How are we inviting the stranger into our lives? What could it look like if our community became the “neighbour” city. If we created block parties in our neighbourhoods so that everyone knows everyone? What would happen if you are sitting with a few friends at a coffee shop and someone is sitting by themself and you invited them to join you? What would happen if we volunteered for Hope Street Compassionate Ministry Centre or the Medicine Hat Food Bank or other great local community organizations? There are simple ways that we can make a difference. We may not know that our “neighbour” is hurting. Or feeling alone. Or struggling to find the help that they need. We could be a good neighbour by doing something simple. Jesus invites us to love our neighbour as yourself. I think that is what Mr. Rogers was trying to say too. So let’s take the time to get to know others. Call me neighbour, I want to meet you and let’s go for coffee! Steven MacCuaig is Lead Pastor at Glenview Nazarene Church 12-11
