Slow Down and Smell the Neighbors

What does it really mean to love our neighbors as ourselves? That’s the question I’ve been asking in this series of blog posts. Here are some practical suggestions to help us do just that.

• Pray for yourself. God wants to do a work in our neighborhoods. But first he wants to do a work in our hearts. We need to ask God to give us a deep and profound love for the people on our block.
• Pray for your neighbors…by name. One method I have for remembering my neighbors’ names is to pray for them by name. I mentally walk up and down my block in my prayers, praying for each dear neighbor.
• Make time for your neighbors. The beauty of focusing on our neighbors is that they’re convenient. We don’t have to drive anywhere to see them. We don’t have to set appointments to meet them. They’re right there on our doorstep. But even though our neighbors are convenient, they still require time; time to talk, time to help, time to visit. The gift of time is one of the most important things we can give our neighbors. So review your life and think about where you can make adjustments to give yourself more time with your neighbors.
• Put a list of your neighbors’ names on your refrigerator. Probably one of the most important things we can do is write down our neighbors’s names and keep the list in a prominent place, such as on our refrigerator.
• Start walking. Walking is my preferred form of exercise. I don’t have to change before I do it and I don’t have to shower after. I can walk just about anytime and anywhere. But the best thing about walking is that it gets me out of my house and into my neighborhood. The result is that spontaneous chats happen almost every day.
• Sit outside in front of your home. Patti and I live in Denver, so sitting in front of our home in the winter isn’t practical. But I make it a point to sit outside in front as much as I can in the summer. It’s just one more opportunity to live in community. Kristin Schell put a picnic table in her front yard, painted it turquoise, and invited her neighbors to join her. In the process, she started a movement.
• Hand out candy at Halloween. Just one more way to get to know your neighbors and their children.
• Pick up trash on your street. Be the neatnick on your block. Your neighbors will thank you for it.
• Park in the driveway or on the street. The air conditioner and garage door opener are the enemies of community. Air conditioning did away with the front porch, where families used to gather after dinner on hot summer evenings to wait for the house to cool down before they went to bed. And the garage door opener made it possible for us to escape into our garage incognito. Simply parking on the curb will dramatically increase your visibility to the community.
• Get a friendly dog. Then walk your friendly dog. Your friendly dog will show you how to make, well, friends in your neighborhood. Very good if you’re the grumpy, cantankerous sort. Did I mention it needs to be a friendly dog?
• Invite your neighbors to dinner. Have you met a few of your neighbors? Take the leap and invite them to dinner or to a backyard picnic.
• Hold a Christmas party/game night. A little less elaborate than a dinner or picnic, Christmas parties and game nights are a great excuse to invite your neighbors over.
• Grow zucchini. Two zucchini plants will feed an entire block all summer long.
• Decorate your home for Christmas. Actually, I hate doing this. But if you want to risk killing yourself getting up on your roof in freezing temperatures, go for it.
• Help neighbors with projects. I’m still working on this. I tend to find excuses – too many excuses.
• Send your kids outside to play. They need the fresh air. They’re also naturals at making friends on the block. Follow their example.
• Start a Neighborhood Watch Group. You’ll get multiple benefits from forming your neighbors into a community posse.
• Send flowers and cards to neighbors for significant events such as illness/death/birth of a child, etc. They’ll be surprised you even noticed.

I’m sure it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when reading through this list. But remember, these are just suggestions and time is on your side. Start slow, but keep at it. Over the years, you’ll see incredible progress. You’ll become a blessing to your neighbors and in the process, be blessed yourself.

How are you doing when it comes to loving your neighbors? Is there anything you would add to the list above? Your comments below are always appreciated.

This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.