Because That's What Neighbors Are

I’ve heard it said that love never fails, and that seems a straightforward scripture. But I fear that I often forget, miss, or overlook the many nuances that sacred scriptures and wisdom teachings have to offer.

It is easy to share a quick, unexamined scripture, wisdom teaching, or statement of comfort and encouragement that may sound profound or thoughtful but often any depth.

To love is to connect, so if we hope to connect to scripture or to others in a meaningful way, we must first pause and take a breath. This practice is a great way to train our spiritual eyes to see and our spiritual ears to listen. Often, we will find that our spiritual mouths have less to say, freeing up time to simply smile and be present.

I was watching an interview with Fred Rogers. He was asked, “I want to know what you mean when you say, ‘won’t you be my neighbor?’.” What struck me was Fred’s pause. For about twenty seconds, he sat in what was clearly deep thought. He took a couple of slow breaths, then looked up and said, “Well, I suppose it is an invitation. ‘Won’t you be my neighbor?’ It’s an invitation for someone to be close to you. Because that’s what neighbors are. They happen to be in the same neighborhood and close. I think it’s a parable for the desire for closeness.” Then, he smiled. He listened, and he connected with the interviewer. He had trained his spiritual eyes to look and see more clearly and deeply. This loving way to connect requires practice. Something we can all do and something we should all do.

We don’t need platitudes. We need to offer that invitation. To love our neighbors with love that never fails. To connect and to be close. When we train our spiritual eyes to see, we can recognize and respond appropriately with love that never fails. And as I pause and breathe now, that thought makes me smile.