MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2023 - NEIGHBORS

IT’S NATIONAL WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR DAY 

Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day is celebrated every year on March 20. The day honors, celebrates, and appreciates the late Fred Rogers, the immensely popular host of the preschool TV series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” which ran from 1968 to 2001. Although it has not aired for the past 21 years, many people still consider “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” as the standard by which they measure all other kids’ shows. The show is so iconic that those who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s would surely have watched Mister Rogers head to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and sing songs with his puppet friends. 

 

The theme song from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood:

it's a beautiful day in this neighborhood
A beautiful day for a neighbor
Would you be mine? Could you be mine? 

It's a neighborly day in this beautywood
A neighborly day for a beauty
Would you be mine? Could you be mine? 

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you 

So, let's make the most of this beautiful day
Since we're together, we might as well say
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

Won't you be my neighbor?
Won't you please, won't you please?
Please, won't you be my neighbor? 

***** 

What a friendly song. 

 

That, of course reminds me that Jesus said “Love your neighbor as yourself “ 

 

Then he told an almost impossible story- the Good Samaritan-who is my neighbor? From that story and from Mr. Rogers I understand that everyone is my neighbor And I’m to love my neighbor and love everyone.  Not everybody is easy to love, and not every neighbor is warm and friendly.  

What would have happened if the injured man on the road to Jericho had said “Leave me alone you smelly Samaritan. Just let me die here on the side of the road?”

What if the injured person was a liberal and underneath them was a sign that said “Keep your hands off of my womb” and the person that was there to help (like the Samaritan) had a shirt that said, “Abortion is murder” [Or … vice versa].  

What if the injured person was a Ukrainian and the helper was a Russian soldier [or … vice versa].   What if the injured person was a black man that had been tasered by the police and needed help?  

*****

The policeman in Mr. Roger’s neighborhood was a gay black man (see: https://www.npr.org/2020/04/30/847315345/officer-clemmons-mister-rogers-neighborhood-policeman-pal-tells-his-story) 

That was tough both for the clean-cut Fred Rogers and the gay black man (Dr. François S. Clemmons ).  But Fred Rogers treated Franc like a neighbor - with respect and love. 

*****

Are there people you don’t want to be your neighbors?  

In reply, Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denari] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Luke 10:30-35.

Are you (or … am I) like the priest or Levite who passed by on the other side?  (I’m not always a good neighbor, but I’m trying to let LOVE WIN).

Are you like Fred Rogers - asking if we could be neighbors?

***** 

 

Today is also the first day of spring.   

Spring is a time for love - new beginnings.  The dormancy of winter is over, and new growth is occurring.

I’m reminded of Edvard Grieg, from cold Norway “Once again I can see winter leave and springtime advancing.”.  Maybe today I can see hate leave and love advancing!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © MARCH 20 2023