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Won’t you be my neighbor?
As a child growing up in the ‘70s, Mr. Rogers was a beacon of hope about being a good neighbor to all the people of our communities, workplaces, families and beyond. I was reminded of the depth and impact of his work, through a recent viewing of “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”, starring Tom Hanks, as Mr. Fred Rogers.
Watching this movie, took me back to my childhood and helped me realize how it shaped my love for getting to know people and being tender hearted for difficult situations. Mr. Rogers wasn’t my only lens to the world, my grandfather was an Episcopalian priest in Milwaukee during the 1950s, ‘60s and 70s. His heart was for God. He showed the love for others by visiting the ill in the hospital, marching in the streets in support of civil rights for all and he led the congregation to open its door wider by being a beacon of hope to anyone in need.
I was fortunate to know my grandparents for a long time throughout childhood and into my adult years as well. It makes me sad to think about how many children don’t experience this kind of inspiration and support while they are growing up in this world of polarizing beliefs and events that cause so much damage.
In August, the school year at shelter was kicked off by generous neighbors, The Schmitt Park Neighborhood Association, who threw a back-to-school party near our shelter. The association must have cooked for days, because the abundance of food was incredible. There were grilled meats, salads, fresh tomatoes, cold beverages and games for the children, with prizes!
It was incredible!
They also invited the Mayor of Green Bay, Eric Genrich, and State Representatives, Jamie Wall and Amadd Rivera-Wagner. It was a welcome break in the day for the residents, staff, and the neighbors. My heart was filled by the lovely new neighbors I met that day.
During the month of September, we said goodbye to families who moved to their new life, and we welcomed new families into shelter. That means we have new neighbors inside the house. One of our values is Love and this value is anchored in the following Mark 12: 29-31 verses:
Jesus answered him, ……“The first commandments is: To love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And the second, like it, is this: “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
On the last Wednesday of each month, I gather the staff for reflection on the work they are doing and inspiration to keep going and spend time alongside one another. During our time together, we reflected on this verse of loving your neighbor as yourself and I showed a video called Agape/Love from the Bible Project.
In this video, the authors unpack the biblical definition of Love and showed us how our Love for God will be expressed by your love for your neighbor. In this teaching, we are also reminded that loving someone who can’t give anything in return, is also part of God’s commandment, to “love thy neighbor.” This is underscored by the choice we must love through action and seek the well being of others without expecting anything in return.
Jesus tended to the widowed, the broken, the lame and those set aside. This is probably the hardest part of this ministry. Staff show up everyday, to love, to care and to serve like Jesus did. Please pray for our ability to continue to show up with a joyful heart and the stamina to serve despite the circumstances our residents face. If you are looking for a way to show your love for your neighbors, we would love to have you walk alongside the staff as a volunteer in this ministry.
