A few Mondays past I had the opportunity to visit West Houston Community Center and see a construction project that has commenced. Our community, The FOM, our friends Mosaic Theatre Company, and Family Point Resources are leaving a foot print. A big foot print.

Standing in the theatre space, watching the construction take place, a sense of excitement began to grow in my mind.  After some time reflecting, this is exciting to me because it is a home front mission. It's a real, tangible commitment to those around us. A commitment to the community in which we exist; our neighbors. It's exciting because it's a serious commitment. For me personally, it is a commitment that has grown from the words planted unknowingly planted by a friend after our trip to El Salvador. 

Over coffee and breakfast after our trip, some of my fellow travelers and I spent some time discussing our trip, the well, the villagers, and the orphanage. Out of that conversation, the question was asked, "Where is a place like the orphanage that we can go and put our lives into."

Seeing a hole in a theatre wall and a stage almost finished, I remembered that question. 

I think that question is what has nourished my excitement in the construction project. This is an opportunity to join friends and family in a serious investment for our neighbors.

Many times in our giving and our missions we focus on those in far off lands or those on the very edge of poverty and despair, and yes I believe this is important, and yes I believe reaching these people and loving the widow the orphan and the poor are essential. But I would ask that we not forget the neighbors. 

I believe Jesus calls us to love our neighbors. 

He calls us to love our rich neighbors.

Our poor neighbors. 

Our mean neighbors and clingy neighbors. 

Our conservative neighbors and our liberal neighbors.

Our favorite neighbors and our not-so favorite.

Single neighbors and family neighbors.

Our un-met neighbors.

Interestingly enough, we do not get to always choose our neighbors when we move somewhere. We move in, unpack boxes, rearrange the furniture, buy new things and at some point as we live, we begin to meet the neighbors. I guess that to say, we don't always get to choose the neighbors God brings into our lives, but I look forward to meeting them.