Pastor's Column November 2005

Thanking God for Nearby Annoyances
by Rev. K Karpen

Jesus tells us to love our neighbors. But which neighbors? And how do we love them?

Think about the way we sometimes speak of our neighbors. We say "noisy neighbors," "nosey neighbors," or "annoying neighbors." In a recent sermon, I suggested that we usually think of neighbors, wherever we live, as little more than "nearby annoyances."

Around SPSA, we've been in conversation with a number of our neighbors lately. With the dozen men and women who are camping out on the steps because they have no place to stay. With people from across the street who have purchased expensive apartments only to find they live across from a squatter colony. With officers from the 24th Precinct and elected officials who face pressure from area coop boards.

Just to set the record straight, for the past year the police have had our permission to respond to complaints about our nearest neighbors. As I like to say, we do run a homeless shelter here, and it's not outside the building.

And to be fair, our present nearest neighbors are not the same ones who were here a month or a year ago. Bob got a home and job through Ready, Willing and Able. Chris moved out last month into a real place. Three weeks ago I placed two couples with the Department for Homeless Services. So far they are doing fine.

But as soon as a few move away, other people take their place. The problem is obvious. The solution isn't. But we will continue to work with different groups and agencies to offer decent, safe alternatives.

And what about our neighbors who live across the street, the ones for whom we are the nearby annoyances? Well, we plan to do what neighbors do. Invite them over. With the help of our City Councilmember Gale Brewer, we will invite them in for an Open House to discuss the problems, like homelessness and poverty, we all face, and our plans for this building.

We all know the problem will go away once we're able to make repairs to the building and the sidewalk bridge comes down. "Go away" is the operative term. Homelessness will still be a problem; it will just be a problem on another block.

The homeless neighbors who have made our steps their home have done us a great favor. They have put this problem on our laps, where it belongs. May God continue to teach us how to love them, and all others who need us.