Neighboring - Essential Work in 2020 and Beyond

We’ve all experienced the mental and emotional toll 2020 has taken on our souls. It’s been a long, intense, hell of a year. As an invisible enemy ravages our nation taking the lives of so many, loneliness and isolation also remain rampant with no clear end date. For those who already deal with mental health issues, the experiences of this year make them extremely vulnerable.

This means, there is so much opportunity to be a good neighbor. But, “Who is my neighbor?”

It’s a question from the Bible that was asked 2000 years ago, and I think it’s one of the most important topics that Jesus engaged. Jesus’ response has, in fact, shaped the trajectory of my life in such major ways that Dustin and I have jumped into some pretty messy situations aiming to neighbor well.

Most of you are familiar with our journey through foster care that brought us our girls. That deep dive into radical hospitality altered us forever and fundamentally changed our worldview. Two precious girls that were strangers are now our family.

And when strangers become family, you no longer wonder if they are your neighbor. You no longer wonder about bare minimums. You no longer engage to fulfill a requirement. But you do start wondering how far you will go to make sure they have everything they need to thrive and flourish.

So how do we neighbor well during a year like this?

The obvious answer seems to be that we stay home. We wash our hands. We wear a mask. We stick to our own people and protect those around us.

For some of us, however, neighboring is more complicated. Because of our line of work or our family circumstances or myriad other reasons, we must continue the essential work of neighboring in a face-to-face way. Social workers and medical professionals and therapists and teachers and all of our other essential workers have been working overtime to try to keep up with the unreasonable demands of this year.

At A Faithful Presence, we’re aiming to do the same. We’re being intentional with our time and still connecting and serving in safe ways. In a neighborhood that was used to having 285 volunteers on the premises each week, there are gaps to fill. Not just service gaps, but relational gaps.

As we walk through the Village delivering birthday cards or homemade artwork from the girls, these few moments of human interaction are some of the only times our neighbors experience connection. Outside of the missional residents, nearly everyone in our neighborhood lives alone. And in a population that registers on the high-end of mental health issues and trauma histories, it is critical that we continue to show up day in and day out for our neighbors.

As it turns out, neighboring is essential work, especially in 2020. 

So we encourage you - do your little bit of good right where you are in your own little home, on your own little street, or in your own little section of your city. This is where so many of us need to focus our efforts. Staying home has such a profound impact right now as we work together to keep our neighbors physically safe.

And then, if you’re able and somehow find the mental space to get creative with how to reach out, push beyond those lines. Neighbor those you might not know yet. Listen to their stories - whether online, in books, or safely in-person. Learn from their experiences. Partner with individuals and organizations that are doing essential work on the frontlines.

Find ways to meet needs and have your needs met. Neighboring is not a one way street. It’s giving and taking. It’s offering and receiving.

And it’s a gift either way it’s handed.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus stretched our boundaries when he answered this question. 

Who is our neighbor? Turns out, it’s everyone.