‘How is your neighborhood different because you live in it?’ Downs asks in today’s devotional. We moved into our new home today. In England (where I’m from) neighbours go introduce themselves to the newcomer; etiquette dictates you at least lean over the fence and say hi. In Switzerland, the newcomer is expected to knock on doors and introduce their own selves. I hate it. I feel so self conscious and like I’m intruding when I walk up the path. Even without being the foreigner with the error-prone language skills, I still feel awkward. What if they’re busy? Or grumpy? Or I’m interrupting something? What if they get annoyed with me?

I actually find it so hilarious that my move-in date coincided with today’s content! I wanted to move in three days ago but the works weren’t done…and here we are, moving in on ‘love your next door neighbour day.’ It going to take brave to knock on my neighbours’ doors and clumsily introduce myself. And it’s going to take even more brave to keep connecting with them and loving them month after month. I’m going to try my best, though, more than I have anywhere else because I think it’s something Jesus wants me to do. In my Facebook status earlier this week I wrote I hoped this home would be full of laughter with love spilling out into the street. Despite my fears, I couldn’t be more sure: I want my home to used to serve God and I want to love these neighbours well.

How did today’s devo make you feel about your relationships with your local neighbours? Have you got any tips for me? Stories to share?