Be a Neighbor to a Stranger

Author

Elder Beth Franklin

The parking lot of the grocery store was the perfect place to remind me that being a neighbor isn’t about who or where, relation or proximity. Jesus teaches us in the parable of the Good Samaritan, being a neighbor is about caring and connecting with others – even the neighbors we don’t know. 
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I had stopped at the grocery store on my way home from work. As I was walking through the parking lot, towards the store, I heard a man say, “Thank you for your service.” I quickly looked around and saw no one else in the area and realized he was talking to me. Just as quickly I realized I still had my name badge on my left shoulder with the big bold capital letters RN by my name. In a nano second - so many thoughts and a quick decision. I quickly said, “Your welcome” with full intent to keep on walking, after all, I was ready to get home and still needed to get my shopping done. But in that nano second, I decided to stop. He followed his first “thank you” with “I know how important you are” in the time it took me to take 1 or 2 steps then decide to stop and connect. ​

As he began to share his story, I was once again having nano second thoughts: he’s not very old, maybe in his 40’s, he’s sharing his thankfulness – not his grief or anger, he is kind. As a nurse I often encounter those who have lived through medical trauma and need to share their story to process their fear and grief. This gentleman was telling me his story for the purpose of sharing the heroism of his medical caregivers. It was a story of appreciation. I listened. We connected. Strangers in a store parking lot sharing as neighbors - caring and connecting. In a nano second, he decided to say thank-you and I decided to listen. Blessings of Community, one of our Community of Christ Enduring Principles, reminds us that we value our connections even if we have never met. 
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After this experience, I decided I would take opportunities to reach out to others as I passed them by. To the mother with her 1-year-old in the shopping cart, “Your daughter is beautiful”, to the shopper looking at greeting cards, “your tattoo is an awesome work of art”, to the elderly gentleman struggling to find his groceries, “how can I help you”. Each one is my neighbor, each moment a chance for caring and connection. 

Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living. As you love, may I love in receiving and in giving, Spirit, open my heart.

May I weep with those who weep, share the joy of sister, brother. In the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another. Spirit, open my heart.
                                                 
Community of Christ Sings #564 Spirit, Open My Heart