Connect with your neighbours. Yes, that's exactly what we were doing at 7.30 this morning when Ash went round to bang loudly on their door in an attempt to get them to turn the music down! Ok, so maybe that's not quite what today's challenge was about.
Thankfully, like today's devotional bit pointed out, our neighbours aren't just the people who live directly next door to us. They are the people who we come into contact with as we go about our lives.
The nature of Ash's job means we live practically on top of Strawberry Vale, our local estate which falls within the top 10% of deprevation. There are some days I wished we actually lived on the estate, like Ash used to, mixing with the residents and enjoying the same sewer problems they encounter. There are also many other days when I'm glad we are a one minute walk away and can get into our lift and be thankful it doesn't smell of weed or urine. However, no matter which day I'm having I still want to build community with the people. Ash does an awesome job with relationships (for someone who would describe themselves as an introvert!) He knows the people in our community, he makes himself available to them, he wades through their problems with them and he celebrates in their joys. When you wander through the estate there's an oppressed kind of feel about it, a darkness if you like. But the light comes from the people. When you wander through people say hello. Kids are playing football outside together or tearing round on their bikes. You can get invited into people's homes for a cuppa and a chat. I don't know of anywhere else where this kind of community happens. Where community feels like family, a disfunctional one, but still a family.
So as we get to know our neighbours, these are the people I'll be trying to spend some time with and getting to know better. The ones who are already doing community well. Maybe they will teach me something!
