Do You Know Your Neighbors?

Last week, a member sent me a text asking, “Do you know your neighbors?”

It caught me off guard. Was there something behind the ask? It felt too similar to the time where Jesus is asked by an expert in the law, “and who is my neighbor?”

When Jesus answers, he shares a parable about a man, beaten and left for dead in a ditch. Two of his religious leaders walk by and don’t help, but a Samaritan is moved to compassion and shows mercy.

Before replying to her text, I thought about it. I didn’t think she was stumping me and seeking a deep statement of Lutheran doctrine.  

I think she genuinely wanted to find out if I knew my neighbors.

The reality is that I’ve talked to some, but not all of the people that live nearby. I replied to her text that some don’t act like they want to be known.  

She asked if I knew my neighbors by name. Then she admitted that she didn’t, in fact one she just calls “RV guy.”

I confessed that I didn’t either, but it would feel awkward to ask now.

She suggested that I be honest and not be afraid to admit if I needed a reminder of a name. I told her I’d keep that in mind at the next opportunity.

And I did. I actually couldn’t help but think about her prodding.

I had our conversation in mind the next time I went outside. Suddenly, I was more aware of some of the neighbors that I would normally wave at but rarely talked to. I went out on a limb and struck up conversations.

About soccer. About our neighborhood. And yes, even about the weather. Not all of these conversations lasted for long, but each of them went beyond just a polite wave or ignoring each other.

The next day, I wrote her back and thanked her for nudging me to get to know my neighbors, even the neighbors I didn’t think I’d ever talk to.

Next Tuesday, August 4^th, is Night to Unite, or National Night Out. Neighborhoods intentionally will come together to host parties to get to know one another and invite local police, fire, and EMS leaders to show up and make our neighborhoods stronger by sharing the most important ingredient: community.

I hope your neighborhood is hosting a party. However, if they aren’t, come be my neighbor at Faith Lutheran from 4:30-6:30. We’ll serve a free community meal of pulled pork sandwiches. We hope to feed your hunger and fill you with gratitude for neighbors who care about you and want to know you.

Ever since I got the text asking if I know my neighbors, it feels like I’ve been on a mission to make sure I can answer that affirmatively.

So, do you know your neighbors? If not, what’s preventing you from going beyond a wave and spending a little more time intentionally interacting with others?

Oh, and about “RV guy”? She found out he doesn’t even live there. He stores his RV at his parents’ house, which my church member learned—by talking to her neighbors.

On Tuesday, see how many more neighbors you can get to know better. I bet you’ll find out that they want to get to know you, too.

Pastor John Klawiter is the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Forest Lake. For more information, email him at