At Mainscape, our purpose statement encourages team members to have an impact on their community. One part of that is through company events, where we get together to serve a charitable organization or work to better our community. A second equal component is for our team members to be involved in the lives of others outside work, giving their time and resources to impact their neighbors.
The holiday season is in full swing now, and I find it easy to get caught up in all the activities and lose sight of essential truths. Our family celebrates Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and I am always reminded of the commandment he gave to the leaders of his time, which was to love your neighbor as yourself–the most important thing to do, second only to loving God. In many ways, the holiday season encourages us to be thankful and to share with others. The recent “Giving Tuesday” is an excellent example of donating financial resources to charities and not-for-profit organizations. However, the busyness of the holiday season can often distract us from simply spending time with someone in need.
Reflecting on the past year, I am struck by the numerous challenges that have arisen both in my personal sphere of influence and on a global scale. It is clear that there are many needs. Consistently, difficult situations occur each year. Please take one moment this month to set aside everything else you are doing and pay full attention to a neighbor in need. Our founder reminds us that people want to be needed, wanted, loved, and appreciated. There is no better way to convey this than through a personal conversation – sharing words of encouragement with another human being. Put the phone away, turn off the TV, and lock in to ensure that they know their needs are attended to, and they are encouraged.
Who is my neighbor in this case? It is anyone with whom you personally cross the paths. It may be a family member, people you work with, people you play sports with, or someone right next door. Just look for someone who needs a friend.
I encourage you to find a neighbor this month who needs your time and attention and take a step to live out this truth.