(Somehow, my post for today was deleted! I am not quite sure I will be as "profound" at this point as I was when I wrote the original one yesterday - apologies to my readers!)
In my travels recently, I have seen several pretty country churches. These always make me reflect on my childhood - when friends and neighbors lived in a community, attended the same church, and the same school. Today, I live in a small, urban neighborhood where I know few of my neighbors, and one next door that I would not know if I met her in the yard - I have seen her so seldom! I don't know her name, where she works, or if she attends church.
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| Huskeys Grove Methodist Church, Pigeon Forge, TN |
I miss that sense of community. People used to care for each other, and about each other. When someone was sick, there were always people with food, and offers of assistance. I know those things happen still in communities around the world, but they don't happen here, at least not in my neighborhood. We don't have that kind of connection.
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| Old Church in Cataloochee, NC, Great Smoky Mountains National Parl |
Recently our neighborhood participated in National Night Out. It was an event that was designed to get people related to each other again. We were unable to attend because Dan had just had his pacemaker, but I understand that there were about 50 people there for an ice cream social, and that they really enjoyed it. There are even plans to have a neighborhood cookout in October. I hope they do - it will be nice to know the neighbors.
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| Somewhere along I-81, near Bristol, VA, I think. |
There is one place where we are always related, and always family. We share the same heavenly Father. If you are not connected to a local body of believers, I invite you to look for one. And I pray you will find a family and a place where everybody knows your name.
Blessings on this Lord's Day.
Linking to
Spiritual Sundays.
10 comments:
Love these pics! My church body is definitely my family. I'm blessed to have them in my life. Thanks for sharing this reflection. Blessings!
Good Sunday Morning Linda. Love your church pictures. We are isolated out here in the country and it is the first reason why we would like to move. Need people. We have family, of course, and do lots of family get-togethers but we need more of a community atmosphere.
Good Morning and Happy Sunday, Linda! Things have changed over the years. Years ago I knew all my neighbors, but we are kind of spaced far apart here. A community atmosphere is nice. Have a great Labor Day weekend.
Good post Linda...I feel the same way. We know who the neighbors are in maybe 10 of the 120 homes that are in our development! We go for days not seeing our next door neighbors.
sweet little churches.
I have known my neighbors over the years Linda, some have been wonderful and some not so much, but really out of the whole street maybe a handful only to say hello in passing, quite sad really. maybe I should try and organize a street party..sounds good.
I share your concerns about isolation in our urban neighborhoods. there is nothing so lonely as to be in a crowd by yourself.I have lived in he same place for 40 years and it's much different now. when i came we knew all the neighbors. Now some come and go and we never know who they are.
I love the feeling of belonging to a family of believers, well said. Blessings to you too.
I agree with the thrust of your message. Getting to know your neighbours is healthy on so many levels. I hear people 'wanting' a community connection. I rarely hear people sharing what they are 'doing' to create a connection. I have lived in small towns, big cities, apartments, houses, in the country etc. It's all the little things you do that creates opportunity. Ya gotta DO! Without the DO there is less opportunity. I'll get off my soapbox now. :)
Times have really changed. Now we enter the garage through the house, back the car out, shut the garage door automatically. Come back home, open the garage door with the remote, drive in, shut the door and go in the house. Once in a while one of the neighbors will be outside as we drive by and we wave. That's about it. It was much different when I was growing up. Church is a place we can really have fellowship if we participate in special activities.
Thank you for sharing this thought provoking post.
Blessings,
Charlotte
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