to be a better neighbor

I’ve always ‘given’ a lot, seen myself as a generous person.

I’d set aside funds from every paycheck to tithe, to send overseas, to help those in need.

But something that has stirred, in the worst and best sense inside of me, was something much closer to home.  

That I’d lived in the same house for over 6 years and still didn’t know all of the neighbors on my block.

I had no problem leaving the country for a month, traveling several thousand miles, and serving orphans and widows.  

But there was something so intimidating about walking down the street and knocking on the door.

I journaled in June, ‘my goal this year is to be a better neighbor.’

It was Wednesday and I had a stack of Trail Blazers tickets.  I’d already told myself this year, rather than giving tickets to ‘charity,’ I wanted to give them to my neighbors.  

With the game 24 hours away, I told myself that there wasn’t enough time and I should just invite my friends.  

But I built up the courage and walked down the street.  

The cars were parked in the driveway.  The dog barked inside.  I rang the doorbell.  I waited.  I waited.  I waited and walked away, assuming a neighbor knocking on your door was as awkward for them as it was for me.  

I walked to another house and the door opened, ‘Hi, I’m John, I’m your neighbor.’  ‘Yes, I remember you.’  I walked to the next home, ‘Hi, I’m John, I’m your neighbor.’  ‘Yes, I’ve seen you around.’  

The next night, I watched, not just the game, but the 10 neighbors I had sitting a row next to me.