Won't You Be My Neighbor?

For decades Mr. Rogers used to serve as a virtual neighbor to kids and families all over the world.  Every day people would watch as he invited us all to live in his idyllic neighborhood.  His world seemed so simple and carefree, social treasures of a time long past where you were best friends with your friendly postman, and everywhere you went, whether the candy factory or the cow farm was as hospitable as a trip to your grandmothers house.  But your life would be simple too if your only housemates were fish and hand puppets.

But how about your neighborhood? How is life with your neighbors?

Recently a survey was conducted asking the question, If you could live next to any celebrity in the world who would it be?

Well according to the Zillow.com survey most Americans would prefer to live next to none of the above.  Maybe the world of high-grossing hijinks may be suitable for TV and tabloids, but I guess most of us “normal” people don’t want it next door to us.  

But what if you had to choose a celebrity to borrow sugar from who would it be?

According to this same poll, Tim Tebow was the winner, with a high vote of 14 percent among men and 7 percent among women. 

Just in case you were wondering, the least desirable neighbors were the cast from New Jersey Shore.

So what makes Tim Tebow such a good neighbor?  

Is it his faith? Is it his clean cut image?  Is it the fact that he could get you great seats at NFL stadiums?

And what makes a good neighbor in the first place?

In our book, The Samaritan Project, we wrestle with Jesus' understanding of this question.  In a world that is growing more and more dense, as technology and urbanization push us closer and closer together (at least spatially if not relationally), what does it mean to interact with more people, more often and in different ways than we ever have before?

So what do you think it takes to be a good neighbor? 

Who is the best neighbor you have ever lived near?