The Neighbor with the Shopping Cart

 Friday, June 9, 2023

It's calm, peaceful morning on the patio out back. 8:15 AM, we're eating breakfast, reading the paper, doing crossword puzzle and listening to the house wren brag about his brood. Friday is garbage day so our containers are out on the alley waiting.

Midway through our meal, he comes with his shopping cart from who knows where. We only know him from his occassional route down our alley looking for garbage that he can use to make a little money; especially metal. Just as he passes our table, Pete jumps up, "Wait a minute!" he says to the elderly man hunched over his shopping cart of found things. "I've got something for you in the garage. I'll go get my key." While Pete runs into the house, I chat with the shopping cart man about the beautiful morning. It is a pleasant conversation. Pete returns with key in hand. He opens the garage and finds the metal and as usual, has a little more of a chat with the guy. The man who has had these chats with Pete before, asks how our solar panels are doing. Pete describes him as an intelligent person from their conversations. After a little connection, the hunched over gray haired guy with the shopping cart moves on down the alley with a little more metal than before.

As I watched the interchange and bid my own "have a nice day," I was struck by two things.

1. My husband is an amazing human being! He doesn't talk a lot but he does act out what he is thinking. He lives according to his heart and his convictions. He believes "love your neighbor" is the most important thing and so he lives it. He doesn't care if his neighbor is an old guy with a shopping cart digging through garbage or the friendly gardner accross the street. He just loves with his whole being. I am so grateful for his partnership and his example.
2. We really can't judge a book by its cover, as Pete so gently points out. We don't know what brought that intelligent man to the decision to take a shopping cart and walk down the alleys on garbage day. We can't assume anything. We need to leave our hearts and minds open until we've listened to the story. We need to approach and make it clear that we can hear the story. There are hundreds/thousands/millions of stories that bring people to walk the streets. And likely, they vary grately. 
3. Not everyone has the same role to play. Some are called to organize community and voting campaigns or service in public office. Others are called to take other approaches. We need each other to make this world work for all of us.
   

So I am challenged and reminded that "love your neighbor" is not just handing out food or money or doing what we think is best. It is also approaching and seeing and listening. It is treating our neighbor with the same respect we would treat a friend. And maybe part of the challenge is to learn to respect our own stories as well. I'm still learning what is needed and what I can offer.

Just some thoughts!

~ Jules