Who is my neighbor?

Belemany Mansion, Downtown Wilmington, NC

Yesterday was my second day on the job as a SOAR caseworker. In my new role, I act as an advocate to assist medically identified, homeless and displaced individuals in the SSDI/SSI application process. As we are a non-profit organization, this is a free service. Our goal is to get people deserved and needed income that leads to consistent medical care, housing, and restored dignity.

Yesterday, my partner K and I met a woman named T who has been living in her truck for about a year. We saw her in the hospital after she had been admitted through the ER under extreme distress. T shared with us that in the spring of 2014, her husband of 35 years dropped dead of a massive heart attack in the hospital parking lot. After her husband suddenly died, her world fell apart and she found she could not stay focused at her job. She left her home and relocated over 200 miles to live with her son and his wife, but the relationship quickly soured. After staying with a friend for a short while, she resorted to living in her vehicle. She told us she has no family support and is alone. Through tears she said, "I just want a home again."

When my partner K asked her where she parks her truck, she told us the location and my associate exclaimed, "Well... you and Meg are neighbors!" (I recently moved within 1/2 mile of where T "lives.") As I reflected this morning on the events of yesterday, the word "neighbors" stuck out like a blinking, neon casino sign... N-E-I-G-H-B-O-R-S....

Who are my neighbors?

In my new home, my neighbor is a yellow house with a purple door across a busy street. My neighbor is a middle school that flanks my yard with a row of yellow school buses. My neighbor is a brightly lit window I see across a field as I look out my own kitchen window while washing the evening's dishes.

But is T my "neighbor?"

Who falls within the shadow of my home?

"Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, 'Open you hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land." Deuternomy 15:11

Who falls within the shadow of my life?
Lord, open my eyes to TRULY see my neighbors...