America has a neighbor problem.
A survey of more than 1,000 Americans uncovered:
- Nearly 40% of people aged 18-29 rarely or never interact with their neighbors.
- Only 17% of Americans trust their neighbor with a house key.
More than two-thirds of respondents report hiding from their neighbors at least once. They do this by:
- Pretending you don’t see them (37%).
- Staying inside when you’re outside (34%).
- Acting like you’re not home (26%).
- Wearing headphones while outside (21%).
- Acting like they’re on the phone (21%).
Younger generations are nearly twice as likely to avoid their neighbors as people over 60:
- 75% of 18–29-year-olds avoid their neighbors.
- 74% of 30–44-year-olds avoid their neighbors.
- 70% of 45–60-year-olds avoid their neighbors.
- 38% of 60-plus year-olds avoid their neighbors.
Ironically, people are spending more time than ever at home, but they’re not spending it interacting with their neighbors. According to the survey, 48% of people interact with their neighbors monthly or less, and nearly a third rarely interact with them at all.
Jesus commanded us, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” a directive regarded as the second greatest commandment. But how can we love our neighbors if we’ve never met them? Or maybe we’ve met them, but we’re never with them? (SOURCE: https://toprailfences.com/blog/insights/people-hiding-from-neigbors/)
In the age of FaceTime, getting actual face time with our neighbors may be difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Wanna talk to neighbors you know—and meet ones you don’t? Get outside. Regularly. Intentionally. It’s amazing how God will time things so you just “happen” to bump into a neighbor.
Want to meet new neighbors? Don’t just stare at the buttons when you’re riding the elevator up and down at your apartment or condo. Notice the people with you—and talk to them!
America might have a neighbor problem, but followers of Christ are the answer.
Loving our neighbors starts with meeting our neighbors. And this is God’s will for you, for me, for all of us!
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mark 12:31
Photo by Nina Strehl on Unsplash