Peace, Love, and Understanding
AM Psalm 105:1-22 • PM Psalm 105:23-45
Ezek. 18:1-4,19-32 • Heb. 7:18-28 • Luke 10:25-37
A while back my neighbor put a sign in her yard that I profoundly disagreed with. The sign was positioned between the street and her deck where we would often sit and visit with each other. We are polar opposites in our beliefs and politics, and while we mostly steer clear of those kinds of discussions, we struggle to listen and understand each other when they do come up. But her placement of the sign made me sad and angry. I wouldn’t sit on her deck and be associated with such a display.
I ran into her while walking my dog and noticed that the sign was gone. I had dreaded running into her. We said a tense hello and she acknowledged that she knew I wouldn’t approve of the sign. She tried to explain her reasons for displaying it. I was rude and left her with an angry response.
After leaving her so abruptly I sat with my anger for a few days and then clearly heard the words of Jesus as he responded to the question from a lawyer who stood up to test Jesus in today’s gospel reading: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus tells the man just how fiercely he must love God and his neighbor as himself. The lawyer then asks Jesus who his neighbor might be. In answer to that question, Jesus tells the Good Samaritan story.
I can throw a pretty wide net when it comes to recognizing who my neighbors are (I have dear friends on Arkansas’ death row for goodness sake!) but I sure failed at loving the one who is literally my neighbor.
Suddenly the whole block became an uncomfortable place to be. I could either sell my house and move, or love my neighbor as myself. It took me a few days, but I finally knocked on her door and apologized for my behavior. We both agreed that what makes our friendship valuable is our ability to find common ground with each other in such divisive times. We may not change the world, but with a little peace, love, and understanding she and I will continue to work to change our little corner of it.
Written by Kathy McGregor
Your neighbor.