Stated in the Bible Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”
Additionally this sentiment if not the exact wording appears numerous times in Matthew 22:39, Matthew 5:43, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Roman’s 13:9, James 2:8, Matthew 19:19, Galantians 5:14 as further examples.
So my question to you is do you even know your neighbor’s name?
Yes, I understand that the biblical reference to neighbor isn’t literally one’s next door neighbor. However, no one is reading my articles to further their bible study and bible knowledge either.
So I ask again do you even know your neighbor’s names?
Many years ago when I was a young lad – the time period my kids refer to as the black and white era – as in before color TV – no one in the suburb of NYC in Queens locked their home. All the kids on our block played whatever sport was in season in the street. This meant stickball, touch football unless we went to a park and basketball into a homemade rim nailed to a light pole. In the snow season everyone went sledding and if you had skates played hockey on the frozen over pond at the park.
On the weekends neighbors would drop in unannounced. The Dads would huddle together and smoke Camels, Winstons or Marlboros and discuss the Volunteer Ambulance Corp. or the next Veteran’s Day Parade. Everyone was addressed as Mr. or Mrs. Their last name. Or as Sir or Ma’am. Everyone knew everyone.
Of course times have changed and we now live in a totally different society and lifestyle.
However, there are times when you have to smile and recognize there are good people out there who still ‘love thy neighbor’. Rather than read or watch clips of the political games around hurricane relief efforts, I focus instead on the tremendous work being done by regular people who live in the area and many more who have been showing up to help out in anyway they are able to.
This is the true heartbeat of the American People.
So next time you’re rushing off to do whatever you do, or go to where you have to go, and you happen to see your neighbor – go over and introduce yourself. Or at least wish them a good day!
Wenkroy International LLC is a Professional Advisory company with a main purpose of helping entrepreneurs and business people create the strategy, the plan and the steps necessary to achieve that person’s vision for their business and often their life, while navigating the obstacles which may be blocking them from reaching their goals. The process may involve one on one coaching, advising, laser focus days, personal growth workshops and more. The methods utilized are determined together. The results and value positively impact individuals, teams, divisions and across entire companies. People are now able to focus on what matters most to them, because, they have clarity on where they are heading.
As always share the information in this article with people you know.
