Loathe thy neighbour?

Get out a blank piece of paper and draw a square in the middle. Write your name in that square and then draw eight squares around that square.

Try to write in the names of the people who live in the eight houses or apartments nearest you, your eight nearest neighbour households, and write any facts you know about them such as the names of their kids, their occupation, etc.

In each square where you actually know the people, write about anything meaningful that you know about them or any meaningful conversations you've had with them.

Try & recall a time that you've talked with them about their hopes, their dreams, their disappointments, their fears, their struggles, their fulfillment, what they're living for - the stuff that gives purpose to their life.

Any squares that are blank are strangers.

Anyone that you know some facts about are acquaintances.

For anyone that you can identify meaningful conversations, you actually have a relationship.

A lot of us choose isolation over developing relationships time and time again.

The Art of Neighbouring is the journey from being strangers to having authentic relationships with our neighbours.

1 Peter 4
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.