Imagine yourself in a place you’d like to live (not necessarily someplace you like to go). What do you like about it? The weather? The job market? What are the most intriguing or appealing aspects?
For the most part, our biggest concern is safety. This is where we look to see if security and safety measures are in place. We want clean neighborhoods. We desire adequate schools to send our children to. We look for steady, decent paying jobs.
In contrast, think of a place you would not like to live in. What would make it unlivable (crime, pollution, climate, ethnic blends etc.)? Today even keeping up with the Jones means finding out who they “really” are and not just what they have.
Ultimately, we want to trust that our communities are immune from the deficiencies that can destroy them. These deficiencies are: dishonor to the elderly and leadership, murder, adultery, stealing, false witnessing, and coveting and the like thereof.
Even a place of hostility can be made to “feel” safe if the right measures are in place. We make great investments in alarm systems and neighborhood watches. In extreme cases, we will have trained guard dogs and exercise our right to bear arms. But this is “survival mode” and limits close interaction which is necessary for establishing trust and strong unity.
Granted, we are not living in the days of the wild west but one can’t help but notice the “wild west” show when it comes to town. There is an old ancient saying that goes, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but lawlessness is a disgrace to any people” Proverbs 14:34
But before you say, “There goes the neighborhood” Can I offer a suggestion, and it’s taken from a state of the union address speech given by the late President John F. Kennedy. He states, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
I would like to take this one step further. Ask, “What can we do for each other?” This is a great step toward mutual empowerment and a reciprocity of responsibility for our communities.
So with the threat of budget cuts and spending on social programs,
“What are the options?”
How do we get “neighbor” back in “hood”?
What immunity do we have for our communities?
Is there a remedy for residency?
Lets dialogue before we get sick of trying.
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