July 1, 2025

Hi Friends,

On this Canada Day, as we celebrate our national identity, it seems fitting to talk about neighbours once more. So let me tell you a brief tale of two neighbours.

The first is kind some times, but whiny. The more I get to know her, the more I see that her method of getting anything is to get angry and then complain (of course, none of us can identify with this!!). As gracious as I try to be, I can’t help feeling a bit “judged” or “watched” whenever I’m around her. It doesn’t stop me from being friendly, but it definitely makes it more of a chore to do so. I need grace to be properly kind and neighbourly.

The second neighbour may well be the best neighbour on the street. He is always friendly and outgoing, always ready to lend a hand or share a tool or offer good advice. But, he is possibly also the hardest person on the block to serve. He doesn’t like to ask for help and doesn’t want to feel like he’s imposing (Isn’t it interesting how he never feels imposed upon when helping others but assumes that others will be imposed on if he asks them to help him?).

Yesterday, I was working near his fence, breaking old concrete plugs from a previous generation of fenceposts back into a facsimile of gravel. I could hear him doing something quite noisy on the other side of the fence between us. Sharon came out and my bold wife called out, “What are you doing over there?” Immediately the gate opened and a long conversation commenced (they’re often long with him — and enjoyable). It came to light that he had hurt his back and had two yards of gravel to move on his driveway. Tim had been over there the day before and offered to help but was refused. I was also refused when I offered yesterday, despite the fact that, even with a sore back, he had insisted on helping me with a little project right by the spot where we were talking.

I pushed him on the gravel situation. Finally, he gave in when I pointed out that right now would be a good time to move it, before the sun got around and made it unbearable to work where the gravel lay. Hesitating and stammering, he agreed. I sent word to Tim and, before long, we were both out there, sweating away, serving one who has served us so many times. Both he and his wife kept apologizing for taking up our valuable time. We kept saying, “No need to say anything. This is what neighbours do. How many times have you helped us?”

I love my neighbours, the challenge of relating to them, the way they look out for one another and the fun that we can have together. May God continue to help us, especially because we are believers for whom dividing walls have been broken down, to be both helpful to our neighbours and receptive to their help.

Happy Canada Day!

Blessings!

Doug