I don't think that we honestly answer the question who is my neighbor? these days. Even across cultural lines, we tend to find common ground in the people that we choose to invest time in. In all honesty, i'm not sure where i'm headed with this post. I've been walking around pregnant with thoughts and so, this could go a lot of ways but it probably won't reach too far of an audience. My family and I moved to a different state three months ago. We met our neighbors. I introduced myself to the teenage son on the day that we moved in. He was outside playing soccer. The conversation was short but, i learned his name. A few weeks later, i met the dad. He came over and introduced himself and offered to help us with anything we might need. "Just knock on the door." I was delighted to find out that we had such a nice neighbor. Still, I feel a hesitation to engage. We're different. Its almost a sense of not wanting to intrude and not being intruded on.

When I think about the neighbor that Jesus talked about, I am intrigued that so many boundaries were crossed. This Samaritan was a half breed, kind of like a muggle and a wizard in Harry Potter terms. He didn't care about heritage, customs, or comfort. This man saw someone in need, and he reached out.

I was mowing the large lawn at the house that we rent. I was given a riding lawn mower shortly before we moved. It hasn't been running. I pushed mowed the entire yard in right under 4 hours. My neighbor came over and questioned me about why i wasn't using my riding lawn mower. I explained that it was broken. I couldn't get it started. He told me that he repairs lawn mowers and in fact, he was working on the guy's mower from across the street. Here, my new neighbor is offering his time, talent, and resources and I haven't followed up.. we've mowed at least three times since he offered.

I see the news headlines. I see the fear going around in our country. I see the discomfort in what is happening with the issues around us. I see the social media posts. I see the loaded questions. I don't know the right answer. I don't have a solution for the bathroom situation. I do hurt for people. God's children. Those who don't see themselves as God's beloved. Those who aren't comfortable in their anatomy. Those who are not comfortable loving people so different. Those who truly believe that God is proud of their fear, their morality, their passive aggressiveness, their social media outbursts. Those who can walk into a department store and shout at the top of their lungs in the most ungodly, unloving way that everyone should repent, that employees can find another job, that their actions honor God and everyone else will burn. Those that are too comfortable in their ways.

Sometimes, i just want to grab a megaphone and scream that Christian protesters and picketers don't speak for me! Yes, I believe in Jesus, yes, I am a Christian. I think he's called us to something better than trying to control everybody else. Scripture tells us not to conform and to be transformed. Not transformed into hate but transformed into love. Those people don't speak for me. Im pretty sure, they're not speaking for God either. God is love! LOVE! LOOOOVVEE!

There's employees working in these stores. Real people. People trying to make a living. Raise kids. Make ends meet. People. Just like the religious extremists do not speak for me, a corporation doesn't speak for each of it's employees. PEOPLE. REAL PEOPLE. There's people behind those counters with feelings, problems, fears, families. They are neighbors. Don't ask questions, just love. That's what the Samaritan did. He didn't have to know who it was, someone needed a neighbor!

It would be great if everyone knew Jesus and didn't act like a bunch of lost sheep. We probably wouldn't have some of the issues we have today. But, we also wouldn't have people acting like they were found when they were really lost. That would take a lot of comfort sacrificing, pride sacrificing, and self evaluation. Sanctification is a process and we are on a journey. We haven't arrived. I want to be getting closer..