Neighbors

 

Neighbors in Media, bringing in the New Year on State Street

December 23

Neighbors

Isabelle - the 10-year old who welcomed me,
the older gentlemen next door who didn't,
a parishioner who groused that I was sitting in his seat,
the woman who greets me every week with a hug,
friendly store shop owners, 
teachers, preachers, business people,
garbage collectors, pan handlers, 
warmongers, peacemakers, antagonists, justice-seekers,
cheaters, liars, thieves,
the abuser and the abused,
RushLimbaughLarryO'DonnellJonStewartBillO'Reilly
AnnCoultertheKochbrothersWarrenBuffetRachelMaddow
GeorgeBushBarackObama,
weak and powerful,
extraverts and introverts,
libertarians, conservatives, liberals, progressives,
sighted, hearing, blind, lame,
homeless and multi-house owners,
over eaters and those dying from hunger
caregivers, narcissists,
the terrorist and the terrorized,
the bullied and the bulliers,
gun lovers, addicts, healers,
fundamentalist and progressive Christians, Muslims, Jews,
atheists and non-affiliated,
students, mentors, 
the inspired, uninspired, wanderers, certain ones,
mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters,
gay, straight, transgendered, bi-sexual,
people of every nation and every race,
demonizers and angels,
evolutionists, creationists, those in between,
communists, capitalists, socialists,
perceived enemies and friends -

God's children, everyone (no exceptions):
    All with stories we do not know,
    Stories that connect in unexpected ways.
Neighbors, all
     Making enemies of the other
     Before the stories are revealed.

Neighbors.
Each held in the palm of God's hand,
No exceptions.
Neighbors.
All.

How can I learn to love those with whom I disagree or those whom I do not like? How can I be the neighbor to someone I do not see as neighbor to me?