Another reflection on the topic of "Neighboring" by Megan Warley, a member of our Grant Park house.

"At our house retreat last weekend, my housemates and I discussed our status as neighbors in Grant Park. We came to the realization that, besides the occasional wave or small talk with our neighbors immediately to the left and the right, we have minimal relationships with our Grant Park community. It is so easy amidst our hectic schedules to stay focused on our relationships with our families, friends, churches, and coworkers, and forget about the people who live only a few feet away from us.

We decided at our retreat this weekend that we wanted to be intentional about building relationships with our neighbors- to show them that we value their presence in our neighborhood and in our lives. As my housemates and I began to discuss the concept of being better neighbors, we noticed several ways in which we could be doing a better job. Some ideas included inviting our neighbors over for meals, making our front yard more aesthetically appealing, and hosting events like pumpkin carving for our neighbors with children. We left the retreat with plans to be more intentional about building relationships with our neighbors.

Ironically enough, when we returned to our house after the retreat, we were greeted with a card and a sack of apples from our next door neighbors. They had gone apple picking that weekend and wanted to share with us the “fruits” of their labor. It was such a simple gesture, but we were all touched by our neighbors’ thoughtfulness. And while we hope to continue and reciprocate such kind gestures, we hope to share so much more than kind gestures. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 comes to mind as I consider what it means to love your neighbor (or anyone for that matter).

"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."

~Megan, Grant Park Dwell Member

It can be hard to be a neighbor in a neighborhood like this

I asked two of our Dwell participants to reflect on the question "How do we be a good Neighbor?" Steve Andrews, who is a second year Dweller, and a chaplain at Grady Hospital, wrote this piece on his time in the Capitol View Neighborhood. To learn more about our Dwell program, please feel free to contact me at jannan@doornetwork.org.

~Jannan Thomas, DOOR Atlanta City Director

"I have lived in the Dwell house in the Capitol View neighborhood for a year and a four months. A little over a year ago, I met a local minister who was interested in starting a GED prep program, to help people pass their high school equivalency exam. As luck and providence would have it, I was a professional GED prep teacher for two years. We soon became partners and started an educational ministry together.

I had the educational expertise to get the program off the ground--to choose the right resources, to lead classroom activities, and so on. She provided strong leadership and funding. Much as I know about the GED test, there's no way I could lead this ministry in this neighborhood on my own. I don't have her rapport with the people who come to us for help; I don't have her ability to set and enforce clear boundaries. Most importantly, I don't yet have her ability to pray, but I am learning more and more about prayer. The minister down the road is helping me learn to pray like I mean it.

It can be hard to be a neighbor in a neighborhood like this.

I'm white, and many of the people around me are black. I'm college-educated, and many of the people around me are not. No matter how hard I try, there will always be some distance between me--as a person with resources--and those among my neighbors who don't have the same level of access. But we can try to level the playing field a little bit. We can try to be partners with the people around us, and not simply helpers giving them something. It's easy to see how that dynamic works with the minister, but my hope is that I bring this attitude of partnership to the classroom, as well--that I am working to empower our students to go forth on their own and do what they are capable of.

It's not as simple as 'giving a hand up rather than a hand out,' because in that metaphor, I'm still the sole giver and the other person in the exchange is the sole receiver. Ideally, the students and I, and my neighbors and I, can reach a point where we are both giving and receiving with each other."

~Steve Andrews