“Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Jesus
A couple of tragic events in our community in recent weeks aptly remind us that as our city grows, so must our commitment to “having our neighbour’s back.” The depersonalization that has historically been a part of urban blight need not and, indeed, must not characterize Airdrie.
The other day, I heard a radio tribute to a recently deceased gentleman in Vancouver who had devoted a good portion of his energies to attempting to make that city “Canada’s Caring Capital.” As I listened, I confess I initially found myself reacting rather cynically to his sentiments. Vancouver – the caring capital of Canada? Isn’t that the place known for infamous serial killers like Clifford Olson and Robert Picton? Home of the Stanley Cup riots? Isn’t East Hastings widely regarded as Canada’s worst ghetto?
As the tribute unfolded, however, I was duly impressed with the various initiatives this man had introduced in an effort to truly improve Vancouver’s collective pride and morale. For example, a few years ago when the old Block Parent program faded into oblivion, he lobbied for a suitable replacement in the part of Vancouver he lived in. And he was successful! He found an insurance company agreeable to offering reduced rates for homeowners willing to visit their neighbour’s house each day the others were out of town.
Learning to love my neighbour with affection similar to that which I have for myself and my own interests is not an easy pursuit.
Jesus never intimated that it was. It’s time consuming and easy to dismiss as just another duty to be added to already overcrowded schedules. Nonetheless, the priority Jesus attached to the endeavour suggests he considered it both an important and necessary component of what it means to live in meaningful community.
If we learn anything of lasting value at all from the horrific murder that unfolded in our city a couple of weeks ago, let it be to resist the growing depersonalization of society and make it a point to actively look out for our neighbors. That conversation while shovelling snow or mowing the lawn. That second look for anything suspicious or curious concerning neighbouring properties. That “hey, I’m going grocery shopping, do you need anything?” phone call.
Don’t just think about it, act on it! You never know, perhaps we can make Airdrie the caring capital of Canada?
Tim Callaway is pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church in Airdrie. You can e-mail him at [email protected]
