Living out the Great Commission means loving our literal neighbors. Yes, it will be uncomfortable. But it will be holy. (thanks Clayton Blackwell for those words.)

For us, this sometimes looks like phone conversations with our 94 year old neighbor and her inviting us to clip pink roses from her yard. 🌹

This sometimes looks like delivering baked goods and telling stories and keeping watch over one another and laughing with glee about the ducks on our roof. 🦆

Sometimes loving our neighbors looks like calling 911 when someone needs help, even when it’s scary and uncertain. Yeah, it will be uncomfortable, but it’s also holy. I don’t know if I’ve ever practiced what I preach quite so literally.

Loving our neighbors also means being loved, letting them take care of my kids when I literally cannot stop crying.

It means exchanging friendship bracelets like school girls and meaning it with our whole hearts.

It means planning a garden big enough to share the bounty with anyone who walks by.

It means praying about hosting a little tiny Bible school with those kids, using this awesome Compassion Camp from Illustrated Ministry. https://store.illustratedministry.com/products/compassion-camp-family-edition

Neighboring in the way of Jesus is about teaching my kids #blacklivesmatter and talking about the uncomfortable truths of our #whiteprivilege and committing to read books by people of color.

Neighboring like Jesus means lamenting with those whose voices are ignored or silenced. It means speaking up and using our social “privilege” to move in the direction of freedom.

It means praying for the oppressor to see the Light of Christ, to repent and walk in the way of Jesus, just like Saul who became Paul.

Loving our neighbors may be uncomfortable, but it’s good and holy and necessary.