Thought-provoking questions

‘Thought-provoking’ is how some neighbours describe this column. Encouraging. Thanks. Could they mean that these articles inspire reflection, spark meaningful conversations or motivate them to adjust their outlook on life? And what’s the next step? Good question! Next question: generally speaking, why do we say the things we say and do the things we do? Thought-provoking questions? Think about these things.

In the early days of this Hello Neighbour initiative, as I recall, a neighbour who had two stoves, but only needed one, was moved to donate one of them to her next-door neighbour on hearing our desperate echo to “love thy neighbours as thyself” and to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Let’s not forget that our Creator expects us to develop the habit of sharing with others to the same extent that we would expect them to share with us had we been in their ‘tight shoes’! At the end of the day, the donation of the stove made at least three persons happy: the donor of the stove, the receiver of the stove, and yours truly.

What truly makes us happy about this column is the reader’s practical response to the needs and ideas shared here on a regular basis! Our intention is not just to “provoke thought”, but to provoke action – a call to action. Actually, we are aiming at behaviour change. Of course, this may not occur overnight. Our discourse focuses on how, as human beings, our actions, knowingly or unknowingly, impact one another and how to arrive at win-win outcomes from our interpersonal engagements. We also provide opportunities for neighbours to assist one another in varying circumstances. Hopefully, we are making some headway – think we are.

Don’t know if you recall a few years back when we published the plight of a third-year university student who was on the verge of being de-registered due to non-payment of tuition. Uhmmm! But help was on its way! YESSSS! A ‘Good Samaritan’, who to this day we have not met, came to her rescue! The happy student graduated and went on her happy way! Have a sneaky feeling, though, that by the end of the day, the ‘Good Samaritan’ was even happier! “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

Been proven time and again that people who ask for help may receive just what they ask for while those who offer help, oftentimes receive more than they could ever ask for in return. What does the law of giving and receiving or sowing and reaping say? “Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.” Take a seed from the ground and you have one seed in your hand. Give a seed to the ground and you will have many seeds in many hands.

Let me get back on track. Seriously, knowingly or unknowingly, how we live our lives impacts one another negatively or positively and should not be taken lightly! American songwriter and musician Joan Baez reminds us that

“No man is an island

No man stands alone

Each man’s joy is (must be) joy to me

Each man’s grief is (must be) my own

We need one another

So, I will (must) defend

Each man as my brother

Each man as my friend”

Despite how self-sufficient, independent, and resourceful my achievements and accomplishments may make me feel, I must never forget that I am not an island by myself, and I cannot stand alone! If we consider each man’s joy to be our joy and each man’s grief as our own, what will prevent us from celebrating with or helping to lighten the heavy load of our brothers and sisters? And here’s the catch: by lightening the burden of others, yours becomes lighter. Hope you’ve found this piece action-provoking.

Peace!

REMEMBER YOUR NEIGHBOURS WHO NEED YOUR HELP WITH:

1. Stove

2. Refrigerator

3. Bed

4. Food

5. Medication

6. Financial assistance to start a little business.

To help, please call Silton Townsend @ 876 649-9636 or 876 884-3866. Email: helloneighbour@yahoo.com. Visit hellomineighbourja.blogspot.com. Townsend exclusively manages the collections and distributions mentioned in this column and is neither an employee nor agent of The Gleaner.