Neighbor

“Just exactly who is my neighbor?  Please tell me it is not that stranger looking all disheveled walking down the street or that loudmouth nut with whom I share a property line.”

“Let Me ask you this, why are you concerned with who is your neighbor?  Why label and not just live?”

“Wait, are You saying that I need not reference a neighbor?  That this makes no difference?  I am just trying to follow Your commands, so who exactly is my neighbor?”

“Mercy.”

“What do You mean, mercy?  How is mercy my neighbor?”

“You concern yourself with the written statements as if these words carry merit, take a step back and embrace the spirit of the law.  Mercy, be merciful, be compassionate, be kind, be generous to every person you meet.”

“Wait, wait, are You saying that every person with whom I encounter is my neighbor?”

“Yes.”

“No, no, that is way too many people.  How can I genuinely care for so many people, that is impossible!”

“Caring for and carrying are two different incidents.  To care for another is interact with another as though they matter, as though they are an extension of Me and there bye dignify their person with treatments of compassion and mercy.  Look not down upon another because you understand not their traditions, understand not their culture, nor their dialect.  Care for this stranger as I would care for you, note their worthiness, note their needs and claim your place among their assistance if it only a kind word.  There will be neighbors which whom you will be asked to carry; walk with them, learn to understand their thoughts, synthesis hopes in faith and extend your arms as a justification for love, for compassion, for a beginning, a beginning of a mercy train.”

“Caring and carrying, I just asked about a neighbor and now You are saying that I need to care for every person, that some I may need to carry?  Look There are times that I, myself, have difficulty walking and now You are saying that I may have to carry someone else?  I am not understanding this neighbor thing.”

“It is not a neighbor thing, actions are not a bagged collection, one in which you take out and admire.  Actions are extension of your being infested by faith, running on love and mentored by understanding.  With every person you meet, take a moment and look into their eyes, see their soul, feel their person.  Some will not let you past their erected firewall for they have been jaded, hurt by a passing stranger, knifed by a intimate companion.  These are the ones with home you must carry for they are tired, they are wounded.  Delve into their soul, reach beyond the masquerade for it mercy they long for, it is compassion which they crave.  You have the ability to to see, will you look long enough to see?”

“Their soul, now You are talking about looking for a soul?  I thought I just had to doo a couple of good deeds, like hold the door or say hi to a perfect stranger but now You have me becoming life long buddies with perfect strangers, to make each stranger my very best friend.  This is an impossibility.  Can you just tell me which actions I need to fulfill to make it into heaven.  I mean really, could You just give me the quick, cliff noted version?”

“Ah, My child, there is no cliff noted version of faith, once it is opened and lived, it becomes who you are.  Actions have little meaning without faith.  Mercy is your destination.  Mercy is the action of the soul which understands My presence, accepts My love and moves with justifications of hope and wisdom.  Life is not about accolades, it is not about the trophies adorning the mantle, it is not about the verbatim reciting of catechisms.  No, life is about living, about doing, not because it will get one noticed but because it won’t get you noticed.  Mercy needs to be your breath, it needs to be your purpose for it knows no boundary of performance, it knows only certainty of faith.  You ask who is your neighbor that you may reap the accolades of attention and meet the demands of a written law.  But I ask if you more, I ask of you to bring to the world you.  When others look into your eyes, will you allow them to see your soul, will you be their neighbor?”

“What?  Mercy, accolades? I just want to know what to do and when to do it?  Is this so hard to answer?”

“I have answered it.  Life is not a mathematical property to be solved by rational thought with limits and set procedures.  Life is about feeling the soul, knowing My presence and letting the heart take the lead.  Yes, every person is your neighbor for every person has, within them, Me.  Every person is an extension of My purpose, they dwell within My reality, they are but My realization, the humanization of My love.  Care, carry, see deep within, see their soul, see their worthiness and act as though they matter, for the do.  Each and every neighbor matters, extend them the love I share with you, the love I freely give to you.”

“This is way more them I was asking.  So You want me to within every person I meet, You?  Is that even possible?  I mean there is some messed up stuff happening in our world, you can’t be in every person.”

“I am, some may have me buried, some even locked away but if you attempt to see Me in every person you will begin to notice your actions that is a merciful being prepared to love, prepared to give without expectation.  You will see sameness in every person you encounter, a home among strangers.  Breath faith, act mercy and the question of neighbor will become a mute point for your soul will call each, friend.”

“How?  What?  When?  Where? I don’t even have the words...”

“Words are not needed, I wish only for action...actions of mercy...actions of love.  Are you up for the challenge?  Are you ready to let faith infuse your being that you need not tote the line of caring and carrying for every care will be a carry and every carry a purpose filled care?”

“I really just wanted a list of who to care for and who not to.  This is a bit taxing.  So much information.”

“Really all I am asking of you is to love without condition, love without labels, show mercy and act with kindness.  You want to know who is your neighbor but let me ask you this...are you not a neighbor?  How do you wish to be treated?  Then go and do likewise.”