We Are Neighbors

Tim Muehlhoff, who wrote “Winsome Conviction” is concerned about the level of divisiveness in America and the cracks in our unity. He contends that one of the main causes for this discord is how we think about our convictions. “The reason we fight with each other, and often believe the worst about each other, is that we form convictions about things for which we care deeply. Unfortunately, we all care deeply about different things,” said Muehlhoff. “And even when we care about the same things, we often see these things differently and commit to different courses of action. If we are going to live together, we will need to moderate our convictions.” And Muehlhoff says that is also part of the problem because convictions are about moral absolutes. “In life we encounter two types of issues: absolutes and preferences. It is important that we distinguish these two,” said Muehlhoff. “Convictions are what we have about absolutes, and preferences are what we have about matters of taste.”

  In a world that often values self-interest and division, loving your neighbor stands as a countercultural act with the potential to reshape society. There are five ways that loving your neighbor can lead to empathy, understanding, and interconnectedness. 1. Challenging Self-Centeredness: In a culture that often prioritizes personal success and achievement, loving your neighbor requires a shift in focus from oneself to others. 2. Overcoming Social Divisions: Loving your neighbor transcends societal divisions and encourages us to recognize the shared humanity that unites us all. 3. Promoting Inclusivity and Acceptance: Loving your neighbor means celebrating the uniqueness of each individual and dumping prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion. 4. Cultivating Stronger Communities: By extending a helping hand, offering support, or being present, we create a sense of belonging, connectedness and stronger communities. 5. Inspiring Positive Change: Acts of love and generosity ca

  Where neighbors share a sense of community, residents are more likely to feel safe and secure and have a lower fear of crime than those without a sense of community. People living in connected neighborhoods feel healthier and are happier about their lives and are more likely to vote and help others by volunteering. For these reasons and many more, being a good neighbor and connecting with others on your block improves the neighborhood and helps you personally.  Neighborliness is not a special talent - it is a decision! Anyone can be a good neighbor —it just takes a little initiative, but the rewards make it worthwhile. Neighborhoods with a higher sense of community enjoy a higher quality of life.  So please do it for yourself and your family. Motivation for action can vary widely among humans. But there seem to be four major motivators for individuals to begin reaching and loving their neighbors. As part of a calling Many Christians believe they are called — or commanded — to love th

  Where neighbors share a sense of community, residents are more likely to feel safe and secure and have a lower fear of crime than those without a sense of community. People living in connected neighborhoods feel healthier and are happier about their lives and are more likely to vote and help others by volunteering. For these reasons and many more, being a good neighbor and connecting with others on your block improves the neighborhood and helps you personally.  Neighborliness is not a special talent - it is a decision! Anyone can be a good neighbor —it just takes a little initiative, but the rewards make it worthwhile. Neighborhoods with a higher sense of community enjoy a higher quality of life.  So please do it for yourself and your family. Motivation for action can vary widely among humans. But there seem to be four major motivators for individuals to begin reaching and loving their neighbors. Community Benefit What has the single biggest safety impact on your community? More poli

  Where neighbors share a sense of community, residents are more likely to feel safe and secure and have a lower fear of crime than those without a sense of community. People living in connected neighborhoods feel healthier and are happier about their lives and are more likely to vote and help others by volunteering. For these reasons and many more, being a good neighbor and connecting with others on your block improves the neighborhood and helps you personally.  Neighborliness is not a special talent - it is a decision! Anyone can be a good neighbor —it just takes a little initiative, but the rewards make it worthwhile. Neighborhoods with a higher sense of community enjoy a higher quality of life.  So please do it for yourself and your family. Motivation for action can vary widely among humans. But there seem to be four major motivators for individuals to begin reaching and loving their neighbors. Overcoming Loneliness Researchers say it is the quality of our social interaction, not t

  Where neighbors share a sense of community, residents are more likely to feel safe and secure and have a lower fear of crime than those without a sense of community. People living in connected neighborhoods feel healthier and are happier about their lives and are more likely to vote and help others by volunteering. For these reasons and many more, being a good neighbor and connecting with others on your block improves the neighborhood and helps you personally.  Neighborliness is not a special talent - it is a decision! Anyone can be a good neighbor —it just takes a little initiative, but the rewards make it worthwhile. Neighborhoods with a higher sense of community enjoy a higher quality of life.  So please do it for yourself and your family. Motivation for action can vary widely among humans. But there seem to be four major motivators for individuals to begin reaching and loving their neighbors. For the Health of it Based on data in “Susan Pinker's book “The Village Effect,” w

Missourians from all walks of life will celebrate Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) by doing and reporting neighboring acts and celebrating the most engaged neighbors in their respective communities. For the third year, University of Missouri Extension and The Hopeful Neighborhood Project have teamed up to sponsor the week across Missouri. "Every day is a great day to be an engaged neighbor, but Missouri Good Neighbor Week allows us to focus on what it means," said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. The goal for the week is to document 20,000 acts of neighboring in 2024 and to expand the use of #MoGoodNeighbors across social media. Also new this year, statewide winners of the Most Engaged Neighbor Title will be announced and celebrated during the week. Nominations can be made all year online at the Missouri Good Neighbor Week website: http://missourigoodneighb

As the son of a retired librarian, I know the humble book remains a powerful tool for education, enlightenment, and entertainment. In this digital age, a good book can show us what community and friendship mean and how to be the best neighbors or citizens. Books and Little Free Libraries can also connect neighbors. Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon. The small, front‐yard book exchanges number more than 175,000 worldwide in over 100 countries, from the United States to Iceland. WHAT IS LFL? Little Free Library (LFL) is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. The organization's mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries. Little Free Library book-sharing boxes are placed in front yards, housing projects, community centers, schools, parks, gardens, and other easily accessible locations. Only registered (chartered) Little Free Library b

“If the choice is between getting 10 percent more police or getting residents to create 10 percent more connections, pick the connections every time,” said Robert Putman in the new documentary Join or Die. The documentary examines social capital and its value to a community, based on Putman’s research and his book Bowling Alone. In his seminal work, Robert Putnam advocated for a societal shift in priorities, emphasizing the importance of fostering neighbor connections over bolstering police presence. This assertion underscores the fundamental significance of social capital in building cohesive and resilient communities. While the allure of increased policing might seem intuitive in addressing societal challenges, investing in neighbor connections offers a more sustainable and holistic approach to enhancing community well-being and safety. First, neighbor connections serve as the bedrock of social cohesion, fostering trust, reciprocity, and mutual support among community members. Wh