NAVIGATE
Community
NEIGHBOR / RECIPIENT
What does it mean to be a neighbor in a culture where most of us don′t know who lives next door? How do we break through years of celebrating our individuality, independence, and personal space? Fortunately the task is a lot easier than it might appear at first glance. Making connections and building relationships are built into the human DNA. And, barring a few exceptions, your efforts will usually be welcomed with a friendly smile.
In Principle
Neighbors:Compassion recognizes the following principles when we involve ourselves with members of our neighborhoods and communities:
- We respect the boundaries of others. We do not thrust ourselves or our “good intentions” on anyone. Too much evil has been done in the name of good.
- Our desire to give of ourselves is pure, and mandated by God. It is an investment in humanity that is accompanied with sincerity and empathy. We are not better than the people we serve.
- We are available to those who have fallen “between the cracks”. Socio-economic status and background are not the determining factor in coming alongside someone.
- Our services are given freely and unconditionally. No strings attached!
The Goal
Our goal by adhering to these guidelines is specifically to remove the pressure and tension that can easily dominate interactions of this nature. If you have been approached by someone representing or claiming to represent Neighbors:Compassion know two things. One, if you are in doubt about an individuals’ intentions please do not hesitate to contact us for a character reference. And two, we recognize that it is not our place to solve any or all of your problems. The nature of what we do is such that we come in and out of people’s lives, no questions asked and no strings attached. We are not looking to be the worlds’ best friends, and we do not suffer from a “Savior” complex.
To best illustrate how Neighbors:Compassion operates let us look back to the original group in Colorado Springs. Several of our members immediately recognized the correlation between the Bible’s call to “protect widows and orphans” and the scores of struggling single mothers in our society. We decided the best way to partner with single moms would be through an organization called Women of Courage. We sat down with the director and asked if she could give us some ideas of where to start. She presented us with a list of seven women who each had a specific challenge without a solution in sight. The list included things like: I can buy gas or food this month, but not both. The basement has flooded and the kids can’t use their rooms. My graveyard shift means, I need a sitter both during the day and at night. I just graduated from college, does anyone care?
The group chose the two projects that seemed to best fit the resources we had amongst ourselves. We set up a time to meet with each mom, and gained a solid understanding of what needed to be done. After this the group reassessed the situations and made the decision to move forward confident that we would succeed. Success is not always guaranteed, however it is of paramount importance that you stand behind your word, and do your best to accomplish what it is you set out to do.
Be Blessed
So whether you are the neighbor giving or the neighbor receiving, may you be blessed through the time you spend together. May your efforts be fruitful. And most importantly may God shower you all with His Love and Grace!