Outside my Front Door

So the elections are over.   People are either celebrating or licking their wounds.  Meanwhile, in the real world... life goes on.

Big issues surround us.  Daily, people face obstacles in their life that seem unbearable.  The weather and disasters are out of my control.  It is all way to big for me to solve.  I can be thankful and take responsibility for what is right in front of me.

So this morning I leave my red rocking chair where I write, to look out my front door.  I love this door with its beautiful large glass window facing the south.  Sunrises, sunsets and sunshine floods my living room through this window.  Stepping out of my front door, I am standing on a cement porch facing south.  My attempt at decorating includes an olden wooden gate and two chicken feeders that held annuals all summer.

I live on a lane that curves north a few houses from mine.  Houses are placed along the line in a way that reminds me of my Mom's cake decorating tools.  She would hold it in her hand and squeeze out similar roses on a cake.  The landscape has changed lately as I had to cut down an old cottonwood tree.  However, my neighbors newly planted trees are growing beautifully.

As I slowly turn to my right, my mind's eye sees the single mom, her daughter and her mother who live in the rental.  Strong women.  Amazing women.  Past their yard to a "seasoned" woman who walks every day past my front door.  My eyes move to across the street where a middle age family lives with bikes and toys neatly line the outside.  

Next is to a rental where a single Dad just moved with his four children.  Lights from last year's Christmas are still up as he tries to get on his feet.

Across the street was a preschool and now a home with two middle school kids who liven up the street.

Directly across the street lives an older couple who have been cornerstones in the community.  He is the first one out working and I just found out how old they really are.  Looking left I realize I have to get to know the bachelor who just moved in. 

Then there is Larry.  The older man who used to stand outside in his yard without a shirt looking mean...until we got to know and love him.  Across from him is an older woman and her adult daughter.  They take care of each other through health problems and are the most selfless people I know. 

I see them outside my front door everyday.  I wave.  I say hi and I would do anything for them.  

But... I wonder.

What would happen if I intentionally became a truly good neighbor?   Can it become more then a slogan?   Do my neighbors know how much I appreciate them?  Do they realize late at night when I sneak out to watch the stars or say a prayer that I have learned to find comfort in their presence?

In what ways could I engage my neighbors?  

How could we partner to make life a little easier?  

Could we share more?  

Cooperate more?  Visit more?  

Integrate trash pick up and checking on my neighbors as part of getting more exercise is one idea.

Intentionally praying daily for them from my front door?

  

Could we start a revolution by stepping into our past generations and remembering what neighborly means?  I might not have cows and fences and sewing circle is out the window.  But neighbors still need each other.

  

It is time that we focus on what is in front of us to do....and walk out our front door.