Who Are You? You Are My Neighbor.

You are the neighbors and the passersby who saw the smoke and called 911.  You are the ones who broke down the door to the garage to let the dog out and wheel away my wife's motorcycle.

You are the emergency crew that responded on June 15, 2010.  You are the firemen who managed the traffic, drove the trucks, ran the pumps, laid the hoses, rescued the photo albums, succumbed to smoke inhalation, worked hours to remove metal roofing to finally extinguish the fire in the sheathing, came as a second shift to relieve the exhausted crew, the on site chief and the men and women who manned the hoses.  You are the rescue workers who treated the firemen, provided water, ran for pizza and asked if we were all right.

You are the many folks in this community, at work and around the country who prayed for us.

You are the ones who were ready when I got home to comfort and offer help. You are our neighbor who took in our dog and cares for her until we find a home.  You are the ones who parked way down the street somewhere and made the hike to stand beside while we watched and waited. 

You are the folks who stopped by the next day for a quick greeting, a hug and a "I won't keep you, but we are thinking and praying for you".  You are the one who paid for my donut and coffee at Dunkin Donuts at the drive-through.  You are the motel folks who gave us a discount rate and moved our stuff to the room with the Jacuzzi. You are the folks who came the next several days in a professional capacity but were respectful and kind to us.  You are the service person who came and liked the shirt was given to me.  You are the man outside the store who didn't know me or my situation but we were able to share that Jesus Christ can change lives in our community.

You are the lady on the phone crying out for help.  You believe in God, but you are angry at Him.  You are the man who called on the phone so that we could cry together, not because of the fire, but because of the miracle of what God is doing in our lives. 

You are the one who organized the yard cleanup and the crew who came to do the work.  You are the young man who came by the next few days to standby for any little task that popped up.

You are the folks who gave cards and gifts to help us get by, including a man who does not know us at all, but works with someone in my extended family.

You are the many people in the community, our church, the fire company and at work who have insisted that we contact you for help, including a man I work with who lives in Tennessee and was ready to hop on a plane to come for the weekend and help. 

You are the folks who posted on facebook, words of encouragement.  You are the ones who have touched our lives unnoticed and will touch our lives in so many ways in the coming days and weeks.

Who are you??  You are our neighbors.

 
Luke 10:25And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
²⁷ So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
²⁸ And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
²⁹ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
³⁰ Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³² Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. ³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. ³⁴ So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ ³⁶ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
³⁷ And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:25-37, New King James Version)

The interesting thing about this parable by Jesus was the emphasis on the one providing mercy being the neighbor. 

Who are you?  You are the one who provided mercy.  You are our Neighbor.  And we thank you very much.  God bless you all.