Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

”It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,

A beautiful day for a neighbor.

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?”

Aww, the childhood memories this tune conjures up. The pleasant man in the red sweater, Mr. Rogers, singing out to every child who had access to PBS. And, according to my research, that includes 31 seasons and 912 episodes. Wow!

I hadn’t thought about Mr. Rogers in quite some time, I didn’t even make it to the film released last year. But I’m thinking a lot about him today. Him and his invitation to be a neighbor. You see, my husband and I decided to take a last minute getaway trip, since his birthday trip was canceled, Father‘s Day is this weekend and he can’t take off in July to celebrate our anniversary. (Too much back to school COVID prevention planning to do) So, this is our ”Happy Birthiversary Day“ trip. We found a remote B&B inn and spa in the Hocking Hills area of Ohio. No TVs, sketchy cell service, but good WiFi. It’s so peaceful. We’ve read, slept in a hammock, had picnics, enjoyed delightful meals in the dining room, had a facial and massage, played cards. Truly delightful. And this morning, we went hiking. At the mouth of the trail there were several warning signs foretelling the danger of getting off the trail and potentially falling off a cliff “may result in

serious injury or death.” We laughed a little at the notion. How likely would it be for someone to fall off a cliff in central Ohio?

Apparently, it’s very likely. 100% likely. Because we saw it happen. While admiring the Rock House cave formation a large man next to us slipped on some water and began sliding down the trail towards the edge. We, along with several other hikers near us, looked on in horror as he picked up more and more speed and flew off the edge of the cliff.

Instinctively, about five of us ran to the edge and saw him hanging on to a large tree that had fallen over. All I could think about was Newton’s First Law of Physics: an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. Thank God for the fallen tree, the outside force, because otherwise, I fear he would have plummeted to his death. What happened next was an example of humanity at its finest. “Do you need help? I don’t think you can climb up.” I yelled down.

”Yes, please”

The woman in the gray and purple athletic pants yelled out, “let’s make a chain, a human chain.”

The man‘s hiking companion was the first, then the woman, then my husband and several of us held on to my husband at the cliff edge. The dangling man was able to grab on and, working together, we hoisted him and everyone in the chain to safety. When everyone was back on solid ground, I examined him (I’m a doctor on certain days of the month) and found lots of “tree rash“ but no serious injuries. All around people offered first aid supplies and ice. People gave up their water bottles and patted him on the back, telling him they were so glad he was okay. It was an amazing moment. I was blessed to be a part of it. Perfect strangers coming together to save a perfect stranger. As we walked on, God reminded me of the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Mark 10:25-37. In the story, Jesus explained how we can inherit eternal life: Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind AND love your neighbor as yourself. He then went on to permanently solidify the definition of “neighbor.” It’s not just someone who lives next door or works in the next cubicle. A neighbor is someone who has mercy on another, even a perfect stranger. Especially a perfect stranger. So, I revise my story. It was an amazing moment. I was blessed to be a part of it. Neighbors coming together to save a neighbor. Yes, I like that much better.

And when we made it back to the parking lot, I checked him over again. He dropped to the ground and gave me 10 effortless push-ups before he grabbed me up in a big bear hug. A neighbor thanking a neighbor for caring. Now, I wonder, could this concept catch on? Could we view anyone and everyone we meet as a neighbor? Shouldn’t we? Isn’t that what Jesus commanded his followers to do right there in Mark 10:47? Regardless of race or gender or orientation or profession, shouldn’t we all be neighbors?

The answer has to be “yes.“

Mr. Rogers knew it back in 1968. He tried to tell us for years. But did we listen? I’m not too sure. Because, if we did, would our world be in the situation it’s in right now? If we viewed everyone with a need as a neighbor to love, how would things be different?

I think the world would look a lot like it did today on the edge of a cliff. Because, did I fail to mention, I received my bear hug from a big black man and everyone in the chain was white? “Please, won’t you be my neighbor?”