Dear Rose Park,
Good fences make good neighbors.
This is a line from Robert Frost’s poem entitled Mending Wall and it seems just as appropriate for today as it did when it was written in 1914. When I read this poem, and particularly that line, I read it as meaning neighbors are fine as long as they are kept at a distance. I know Frost was making a tongue-in-cheek kind of comment, and there are times I’d agree, but the wiser and more pastoral voice in my head couldn’t disagree more. Fences might do a lot of great things; they might keep our animals safe, and they might even protect us, but they certainly don’t make good neighbors.
Language shapes culture. The way we talk about things shape the way we think, feel, and act toward things. Each and every Sunday, you hear me say, “let us be drawn closer to each other as we’re drawn closer to Him.” Meaning, it’s our great hope here at Rose Park to be reminded of the great communion that was experienced in Genesis 1. Adam was given a partner, Eve, to experience intimacy not only with each other but more importantly with God. We are created to be in community with each other and with God, no fences required.
All to say, if our desire and vision for the church is to connect the disconnected, empower the connected, and reconcile all things to God then we must be willing to tear down the fences that separate us and instead establish relationships to unite us. Of course, this is much easier said than done because establishing, maintaining, and growing our relationships is hard work. It takes patience and understanding to move past the awkwardness, the discomfort, the risk, and even the fear of getting to know someone, let alone allowing someone else to know the truest version of ourselves.
It might be hard work, but it’s good work. In fact, it’s the best kind of good work. It’s the kind of work that brings about the fruits of the Spirit. It’s the kind of work that repairs hurts and mends wounds. It’s even the kind of work that can change the world.
I hope and pray we can tear down the fences in our lives and journey into the unknown to establish relationships rooted in the love of Jesus and the Church. This task isn’t isolated for only a chosen few either, it’s a hope for the entire church. Regardless of age, gender, or circumstance by the power of the Holy Spirit we can all tear down a few fences and become united through Christ.
Fences are good for a lot of things, but they don’t make good neighbors.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark
Photo by Steven Wong on Unsplash