I never watched Mr. Rogers on tv as a kid and probably missed out on some great life lessons. But maybe not. Teachers, mystics and mentors appear in our lives when the time is right and when we are ready to listen. And it is only now at a most wonderful adult stage of life that I am really hearing the messages that Fred Rogers had to deliver.

What does the word neighbor mean for you? I always thought of it as someone who lived within close proximity of one’s house as in “neighbors in the neighborhood.” But the term is so much more. A very loose translation of neighbor in the Bible even has Jesus speaking with a learned man about the meaning of being a good neighbor. His example was the Good Samaritan, a vilely shunned member of the people who inhabited Samaria who was “unclean.” To even think of this low of the low being considered a neighbor was pretty revolutionary.

I believe that the term neighbor has a much deeper meaning. Yes, neighbors may inhabit residences near ours but they are also the drivers of vehicles in traffic (road neighbors) and they are all of the people who live in our chosen community. They are those with whom we work either in close proximity in an office building or globally those whom we serve or sell to, order from, collaborate with. Neighbors live in countries to our north, south, east and west and across oceans. Our neighborhood of humanity includes everyone.

And how do we treat a neighbor? With hospitality, with respect, with caring, with love. We are all neighbors within this short time we have on earth and being neighborly is key to the success, joy and progress of our humanity. We give and we receive. Whether it is a deep and profound honoring of all or simply donating a cup of sugar when asked. Loving our neighbors as ourselves.

PHOTO CREDIT: Deborah Cole, Cuba 2019. A culture that is the epitome of neighborliness.