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Who is my neighbor?
By bella | May 18, 2006
I moved from York, Nebraska to Las Vegas almost two years ago. The move to “sin city” alone would have been overwhelming to someone who had become used to the laid-back, congenial, Bible-belt feel of the small midwest town. I added to the move a new marriage, and an immediate pregnancy and new baby. It’s been a VERY interesting couple of years, and I still feel like I haven’t adjusted.Â
Most of my time here has been spent at home, in a little apartment. When I do get out, I get confused easily, lost easily, and overwhelmed easily. I’ve never had difficulty with my sense of direction before, so I’m not sure why it’s been so hard here in Vegas. The overwhelming feelings are easy to explain. Often there are more people in the Walmart here than there were in the town of York. (Ok, slight exaggeration, but you get the idea!) The hustle and bustle of life here is SO different. Tellers at the bank or post office don’t know you, and don’t care to know you. Checkers at the grocery store or Walmart are often detached, sullen, not interested. If you’ve ever spent any time in Nebraska, or the midwest, you know that it’s exactly the opposite there. (In fact, when I first moved to Nebraska from CA I was unnerved in the opposite way. I couldn’t understand why the clerks at the store needed to have a conversation with EVERYbody…and not just an “how are you today”, but a “and how is Bob… and oh wow, I heard about that.. blah, blah, blah…” kind of conversation). Anyway, I got really used to the way things were done in Nebraska. It’s almost depressing to go to Walmart here in Vegas.
Yesterday I made a quick trip to Albertsons (local grocery store), because they have a Postal Express office. I found this little post office storefront a month ago or so, and I plan to use it whenever I need to ship something. (Which is about twice a week, since business is getting better and better). There are only three windows in the mini-post office, and I’ve seen the same four people over and over in the last month. I almost feel like I’m back in a small town, because they are starting to recognize me when I come in. And I know they have other “regulars” because I’ve watched the post office employees visit with people, taking just a little more time to have a conversation. Yes, it means I stand in line a little bit longer, but it’s such a nice change of pace to the “main” post office where I feel a bit like one of the cattle being prodded through the line.
On my way home from Albertsons, I was stopped at a stoplight. A man, wearing run-down clothes and carrying a hand-lettered sign, was walking back and forth looking for donations. His sign said he was homeless, and he looked it. I was in the second lane over, so I wasn’t convenient for him to make eye contact with, and I sat there thinking about him and wondering what his story was/is. It’s a fact of life in Las Vegas that if you go out anywhere, you are bound to see at least one person standing on a street corner somewhere, asking for money. I don’t get out much but I’ve been approached at least 5 or 6 times in parking lots as I attempt to get to my car from a store or restaurant. And there are always people on main corners, or at the off-ramp from the freeway. Always.
I haven’t been able to get the man from yesterday out of my head. Or the idea that there are SO MANY people in this town having hard times. I think it was only two or three months after I moved here that I realized Las Vegas is a sad, sad town. There is so much pain here… so much sin… so many who don’t know (or don’t care) about Jesus.Â
And I sit and wonder. What can one person do? What can I do? I’m a mom, a wife, a business owner, a busy, busy, BUSY person. I know my first responsibility is to my husband and children. And yet, I keep getting a nudge. A sense that there is something I should be doing.Â
The man on the street yesterday – he is my neighbor. I think Jesus would have talked to him. He would have helped him, one way or the other. What did I do? I just kept driving.Â
Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
May 22nd, 2006 at 8:13 pm
I have lived here for 20 years. I don’t think you ever get used to it. You have 2 very cute boys, and a pretty neat husband. You are doing a good job! The people on the street asking for money-just be careful.You are making a difference! A good one! My kids love you & your family alot- to me that means a ton! Thank you for caring and being so sweet!