On being brave: love thy neighbor

do you know your neighbors?

i don't.

we've lived here 3 and a half years and

i still don't know my neighbors.

which has kind of been okay with me,

until now.

when i was 10 we moved to california.

encinitas to be exact.

and i grew up with my neighbors.

we were in and out of each other's

houses all day long.

we walked to school together.

we played capture the flag.

we dressed up in sparkley flapper dresses

we made invitations and knocked on doors for the

whole neighborhood to watch us put on "shows" in Tyme's front yard.

we sang and danced to whitney houston and the sound track to stand by me.

our families went on ski trips

and celebrated christmas eve together.

i got to grow up in community

and i didn't even know it.

but i knew it was sweet and i knew it was special.

i could feel it.

and i loved it.

what i didn't know is that it doesn't just happen.

i have to put myself out there. {ugh}

i have to make an effort. {sigh}

i have to risk being uncomfortable. {really?}

i have to make small talk with strangers.

i have to be brave.

if i want the rich life that comes from being brave.

and i do.

so here's what i'm gonna do.

i'm gonna start small.

no grandiose awkward parties or anything.

first i'm gonna walk around the neighborhood with my kiddos

and pray for each family that lives in each house.

silently of course. so as not to freak out the strangers on my street.

{i'm not saying this cause i'm super spiritual.

 i promise. i'm not.

i'm saying it because i remember going on prayer walks

on highschool campuses as a young life leader

and it calms my heart and brings me peace

and reminds me that it all belongs to God.

and i need that reminder.a lot.}

then i'm gonna bake {or buy} something

a lot of somethings

and make them pretty and put them

 in the wagon and deliver them.

door to door.

in person.

to strangers.

scary.

i know.

and all the while i will be scared and nervous and thinking

ugh. this is not what i want to be doing right now.

but i will do it and god will work and

i will say thank you lord.

and wait for my next brave assignment.