Friends,
Last night, we left home with the garage door wide-open -- (A rare and horrid security-lapse to have stumbled into) -- for a quick bite at our favorite Vietnamese Restaurant, "Danang - Tourane," in Antioch.
1. Our alert neighbors, Horace and Dianne, came to our rescue. Horace, knowing this was not our typical pattern, tried to notify our absent selves. (It reminded me of the need to exchange our cell-phone numbers, too) Failing to reach us, he took the initiative to activate the emergency release and close the door -- unselfishly placing himself at some degree of serious risk from a falling heavy door.
2. Naturally, on our return, we were puzzled that our remote opener didn't work. On investigation, I eventually realized that the emergency release was disengaged. How on earth did that happen? "Oh well, I'll figure it out in the morning -- one more thing that HAS to be solved" (sigh).
3. Then, at around 1:00 am, all became clear. Horace thoughtfully called and explained what had happened -- to my very relieved aha's and thank-you's. And we feel so good about this kind act. Who knows how much grief he saved us?
4. I can't help but reflect on how glad we are that we have been taking the time to get to know ALL our neighbors -- near and far -- and, where practical, to exchange contact information -- and to try to develop the life-long friendships -- which maturing neighborhoods are "logically-supposed" to develop. This is but one example of the abundant blessed possibilities opened by neighborly outreaches.
5. I respectfully urge you to try to meet at least the neighbors on your block -- then, surrounding blocks. Even large neighborhoods might not always be so large that one can't get to know most, if not all residents -- and neither is a City too large to make a good stab at knowing and liking as many more distant neighbors as possible. That's how to build a bright future in a complex world -- far better, I believe, than any alternative behaviors within a common territory.
6. True, you can always argue that there may be risks and hassles to doing this. But I argue that that's bogus. Anything worth doing is worth doing. Because we humans are the way we are -- basically good-hearted and well-intentioned -- then, the benefits far outweigh any imagined disadvantages.
7. NEIGHBORS ARE AND OUGHT TO BE A SPECIAL CLASS OF FRIEND -- UNIQUE IN ALL OUR LIFE-EXPERIENCES. Let's treat each other -- deliberately and carefully -- like precious gifts to us from the hands of our fates -- as we truly are -- and are most likely to strive to be -- on our maturest reflections.
8. In no way should we degrade or dismiss the social-contract: "I watch out for you -- you watch out for me." Survival and prosperity are at stake -- and, in this life, we need all the help we can get.
Again, many thanks to Horace for his invaluable, direct action -- and for the powerful and favorable implications which his fine example illuminates for us all.
David Nelson
Thus, the "great human chain-reaction" continues in good order
-- by our good acts -- large and small.
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