Be the Neighbor You’d Want to Have

Choose compassion, connection, and responsibility for one another

5:38 p.m. Nov. 4, 2025

Well, folks, Halloween has come and gone, and Daylight Saving Time has ended – ushering in what I like to call, collectively, The Holidays. Between the time the leaves change and fall, we roll right through Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas, and New Year’s. If we’re lucky, the air turns a little crisper and cooler, giving sweater and boot enthusiasts like me an excuse to pull out our favorite attire.

Normally, this is a cheerful, festive stretch of the year. But right now, I’m not sure it carries the same spark it once did.

If you’ve glanced at any news feed lately, you know things are looking rather grim. It’s been more than 34 days since the government shutdown began. What many thought would be a short-lived standoff has stretched into over a month of uncertainty. This time of year, people should be worrying about what to buy their loved ones for Christmas – not whether they can afford a meal, or if there will even be gifts under the tree.

I spend a lot of time listening to social media chatter, community conversations, and news from near and far. And frankly, I don’t like what I’ve been hearing. Too many comments dismiss those who rely on government assistance or have been furloughed from government jobs. “Just work harder.” “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”

I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re shouting from. Enough is enough.

We live in communities – and communities are the foundation of our lives. They’re the towns we call home, the people we share meals with, the networks that hold us up. We choose to live among others because we need one another – not just for survival, but for connection and joy.

Not everyone starts from the same place. Some people are simply dealt a harder hand. It’s not because of moral failure or a lack of effort – it’s because the system doesn’t always lift those at the bottom, no matter how hard they work. The Bible says, “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” But it sure doesn’t seem like that’s how things play out here on Earth.

It’s time to start loving our neighbors – not out of obligation, not for show, but because our humanity depends on it. It’s our civic duty to extend compassion to those who have less. If you’re fortunate enough to have what you need, what could be more rewarding than helping someone else have another day of hope?

It’s time to do something.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about giving a damn – because someday, you might be the one who needs help. I still believe that, but I’ll take it further: if you only care to protect your image or ease your conscience, then we have a problem. Care because it’s the right thing to do. Care because it’s what makes a community strong. We have nothing to prove – only a shared hope for a world that’s better for all of us, not just ourselves.

As we move through these challenging times, I encourage you to make a difference right here in your community. Donate your time, your resources, or your compassion. Reach out to those who are struggling – both because of and in spite of these circumstances. Lynchburg has always been known for good neighbors. Let’s keep it that way.

I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my heroes, Fred Rogers:

“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”