A Christmas Party

Last Sunday, we invited our neighbors into our home for Christmas.  I don’t really know why we had not done it before.  Maybe because we all get super busy at Christmas hanging out with friends and family.  And perhaps that is the point; many of us live in neighborhoods in which the people around us are not “friends.”

Years ago in America, everyone who lived around us were considered “friends.”  In fact, that was the important role of the front porch.  People greeted each other as neighbors as they sat on their front porches during the summer.  We can all envision that iconic image of a rocker, glass of lemonade, and good discussion with neighbors on a summer afternoon.

But that is all gone today.  Porches have been replaced with electric garage door openers.  We all send messages to each other; I’m cocooning.

At church, we are beginning to talk about a new value.  The value we call “neighbors.”  And the idea is that we would become people who embrace and love those around us.  When we say “neighbors” we mean more than just those in the proximity of our neighborhood, but we don’t mean to exclude those important relationships that are literally across the street.

And so Denise and I decided to hold a Christmas party in a conscious effort to develop better relationships with our neighbors.  We made up a little flier inviting neighbors to our “neighborhood Christmas party.”  We went door-to-door to deliver them in person.  For the most part, we had a very warm reception.  However there were a few homes where we could not discover people “at home,” and we had another where a language barrier kept an elderly lady from answering the door.  But most were genuinely happy to see us.

So we got the house cleaned up.  We made cider and coffee.  Denise cooked up some goodies.  And 6pm arrived.  We waited for about 15 minutes and no knocks at the door.  Would it be awkward if just one family came?  What if nobody came?  We quickly arrived at the conclusion that we felt good simply to be in the position to offer our love.  Jesus was pleased with that regardless of the outcome.

But one knock at the door was met by many more.  People came joyfully with an appetizer or dessert to share.  And the talking and visiting happened automatically – almost like we were on that front porch of yesteryear.  People stayed for more than two hours!

We got to know certain neighbors better.  And some neighbors we met for the very first time.  A buzz was in the room that was very healthy.

All neighbors thanked us.  One neighbor wrote to me the next day,

“Thanks again for having the party.  It’s one of the rare chances to get to learn about each other comfortably.  Have a great holiday and an even better 2012!

Your Friends and Neighbors”

I have a vision for Christians.  Wouldn’t it be great to be known as the “gatherers”?  The people who help others gather comfortably and share life.  The people who move into their neighborhoods and create the environment for everyone to be known.  I’m more convinced than ever that a) it is not that hard, b) people are genuinely hungry for it.

Let the parties begin!  I’ll be happy to be labeled as “the party animal”… so to speak.

Merry Christmas