Some of you may be aware that J.J. and I have a dog named Daphne. She’s kind of goofy looking and not the smartest canine ever- but she’s really sweet. She’s an excellent companion to take on walks and was very comforting to have around when J.J. was working nights and I was home alone with the kids. She’s a sweet dog, but I had never thought she was totally amazing or anything out of the ordinary. However, sometime within the last year we’ve become aware that Daphne is a bit of a neighborhood celebrity. In the warmer months she enjoys spending a good part of her day outside, and when she’s inside she’s begging to be let back out. I started to realize that Daphne was an icon of our community when the kids and I would take her on walks last spring and every single time we went out someone new would comment on her, “Hey! It’s the dog from the blue house! We love her!” Then we got new neighbors that have a little girl who loves Daphne- she comes over to the fence every day to say hi to the dog. There’s a man in the neighborhood who stops by every day, rain or shine, in each season, 365 days a year- and brings Daphne a dog treat. He’s funny too because if we go on a trip and Daphne is elsewhere he still stops by and leaves a treat every day. So we always come back from vacation to a pile of 8 dog treats by the gate. The real kicker was last summer when we went on a trip and my parents took Daphne for the week. When we got back we had a letter in our mailbox from our backyard neighbors that we’ve never met, they left a note saying that they were worried because they hadn’t seen the dog all week and they wanted to be sure everything was ok with her, and offered to help out if she needed anything. They have some sort of Crossfit gym situation going on in their backyard over the summer, where bunches of people gather in their yard to workout… I’ll admit that its not my favorite thing in the world to have a constant display of gym rats in the neighboring yard as I garden. Apparently, Daphne has become a bit of a mascot for the gym people- it’s become tradition for everyone to start and end their workout with a pat on the head for Daphne.

So Daphne is the most popular pooch in the 'hood…while I’m the kind of person who hides in the basement if I hear the doorbell ring so I don’t have to talk to people. It’s not that I don’t want to know my neighbors- actually that’s something I would love. I’m envious of my friends that have true friendships with their neighbors, that would be awesome! And while I’m jealous of that- the only person I have to blame for not having those relationships is myself. For goodness sake, if my dog can makes friends with half the neighborhood I should be able to do it too! I know I’ve mentioned before that I use a prayer journal to write down the things I’m praying for (highly recommend)- but there’s one section I’ve never filled out in all the months and years I’ve been writing down my prayer items. There’s a neighborhood and community section where you’re supposed to lift up the needs of your neighbors and your town…but I’ve never taken the initiative to actually become an active member in my community. I don’t know the needs of my neighbors or my city.

I have always had a fear of talking to people who are really different from me. I’ve always had a hard time making friends and I got picked on a bit in school for my beliefs- I wasn’t totally bullied or anything but it was enough to leave a lasting impression. I still get nervous at the thought of talking to someone who might disagree with me. I know a lot of people who don’t like Christians and have really negative assumptions about the Church. So I worry that people with a different worldview are automatically not going to be interested in knowing me. It’s irrational, but still something I struggle with.

I’ve been reading a book lately called, The Gospel Comes with a House Key, and it’s all about practicing “radically, ordinary hospitality.” It’s all about the importance of welcoming your neighbors into your home and sharing your light with people of different perspectives and world views- because if you can’t form a solid relationship with these people they’re not going to be open to the gospel. I’m only three chapters in, but so far it has been great and also really convicting. This topic has been heavy on my heart for a long time. So as I’ve been reading this book I’ve felt God nudging me in regards to changes I already knew I should make but just haven’t…and then Sarah’s devotion on Wednesday just happened to dovetail pretty perfectly with what I’d been reading and that felt less like a nudge and more like a kick in the pants from the Almighty. Have you ever had that experience- where God gives you the same message from several different sources until you finally take the hint?

Anyways, enjoy this beautiful weather and if you haven’t already- go talk to your neighbors. Because many of us are a little lonely these days and you might be the only light for your neighbors to see.