Peace in the Neighborhood

It's been a strange and sad day today. I knew it would be hard. A friend and I planned a garage sale because this was the only open Saturday from here until Christmas it seems. I drove 6 hours yesterday from Ashland after getting only a few hours of sleep the night before. My friend and I had been talking into the wee hours of the morning and it made for an exhausting few hours last night as I tried to move table, sort through boxes and price my "treasures" for the sale today. A few hours of sleep in my own bed helped and I was up at 6:15 am today hoping for a successful sale.

My friend arrived with a cup of Starbucks for me and we quickly set to work setting out our wares. Usually I absolutely love doing garage sales. I love chatting with people and teasingly convincing some of the shy ones to dig deeper into the boxes and look more closely at the tables to find the treasures they are looking for. But today was hard. It was hot and after having an episode of heat exhaustion last week after the fair (one that consisted of the worst headache of my life and a queasy stomach that threatened to revolt if I even walked by the door of a bathroom), I really wasn't wanting a repeat of that experience. I forgot to put sunscreen on so I'm sitting here with a burning face and shoulders. I made out okay but still have boxes to get rid of in my garage (it was too hot to take them to Goodwill this afternoon so I'm taking them tomorrow).

But what has me bummed is more than the weather or the dismal sales. Today a piece of my Eden was encroached upon. My vision of my perfect neighborhood had a big greasy loogie hocked upon it. As one of the garage sale patrons walked up the driveway I greeted her and asked if I could help her find anything. She said, "Do you know your neighbors very well?" Thinking, what an interesting question, I prepared to launch into my very well practiced speech about how I loved my neighborhood and how great all the families are and how I love it on my street, she spoke before I could start. "Your neighbors are fighting down the street and I'm wondering if you should call someone."

My neighbors? My neighbors don't fight. I thought she must be mistaken. It must be a road rage kind of thing with some of the people who had just left the garage sale. I grabbed my cell phone and started walking the few houses down the block. My heart sunk as I saw my neighbor in her driveway, sobbing, standing shaking in front of the driver's side door of her husband's truck. He was screaming at her and her mother as my other neighbor was in the driveway on the phone with 911. I walked over as the man strode back in the house and was able to comfort the distraught woman. The man stormed back outside yelling at me and the other neighbor to leave and mind our business with many colorful adjectives thrown in to express just how angry he was. He then tried again to manhandle his wife, twisting her arm to get her away from the truck. She's a big gal and to her credit, stood her ground. You see, he had already been in two fender-benders that morning, had a few beers after that and was clearly just not himself. This is one of the most gentle and kindest guy. I NEVER would have believed you if you would have told me he was capable of doing and saying what I saw and heard today.

Three patrol cars later, they finally decided that it might be more of a medical issue than a true abuse issue. He had started some new medication and he was sent to the hospital to be checked out. Unfortunately, the discharged him within two hours and because they are not legally married, the did not tell my friend anything about his condition. When she went to go pick him up at the hospital, he refused to come with her and started on another verbal attack. He was still clearly altered, not knowing what day it was and acting so strangely. I took one of her sons for the evening and brought him with my kids to church and fed him dinner. When I brought him home, "J" was at home sleeping it off. My neighbor says she thinks he'll probably wake tomorrow and not remember what happened.

Not remember that he acted like an abuser in front of his kids and neighbors? I don't think so. If he needs his memory jogged, I think I'll remind him. I'm
not wanting to punish the guy, if it really was a medical issue, than I'm all ready to forgive (NOT forget, mind you) and let him work at earning back the trust I once gave him. But if it's not, buddy - you just might want to find another neighborhood because if you don't want neighbors that step in when you're acting like an ass, then you need to move. Because I'm not going anywhere.

That was just ONE of the cruddy things that happened today. My other neighbor, the good Samaritan that was on the phone, found out today that his brother has days to live. It wasn't his favorite day either. Tonight, we had a guest speaker at church from a theological seminary in Lebanon. He is stuck in the US and can't get home. He gave an amazing picture of the true depth of the conflict of the Middle East and had an interesting perspective on what might bring about a resolution. He basically advocates that by the US using the term "terrorist" we create an image of a sub-human group of people. There are those that commit specific acts of terror, but they include ANY military organization that target civilians with harm. By labeling some terrorists, we absolve ourselves of the need to pursue active dialogue and pursue real and true resolutions. He likened it to the story/myth of the man who was fighting a fierce battle, feeling attacks on all sides, but then woke to find he was fighting a windmill. When will we as a country wake to see the windmill? What will we do, as Christians, as the church, as a follower of Christ, do to make sure we are part of a solution based on justice, mercy and love? I left with a heavy heart, but I think, no, I know, that God is not always interested in our comfort.

He's done his job. I'm plenty uncomfortable tonight.

I will pray that I'll come to a new level of understanding of who God is and what he wants for me in all these situations. And that I have the courage to act - even if it's only to walk on my street with the hope for peace here and in every neighborhood from here to Lebanon.