If my fence could tell a story, it would tell you about two sets of neighbors that border our backyard.  Part of my fence would tell you about a family that laughs a lot and enjoys life.  It would tell you that this family welcomes many people into their backyard for BBQ’s and fun.  The fence would explain how beautiful these neighbors are, how they love the Lord and how they make great friends.   The fence would see that it’s only purpose is to be a border between yards because friendship crosses over the fence all the time.

My other fence which borders my other neighbor, would tell you a different story.  This fence would tell you of an unhappy man that keeps his yard in perfect order.  It would explain how each fall this man spends several hours a day picking up leaves, vacuuming leaves and compulsively grooming the yard.   The fence would tell you that nobody comes to visit.  In fact, this fence would tell you that it often hears the screaming and cussing of a father to his adolescent child and wonders what happens inside the home.  The fence would tell you stories of the man reaming neighborhood children who step on his lawn. It would tell you the story about the day that two neighborhood children were walking their dog and the dog piddled in the man’s yard, and how the man spent 5 minutes cussing and screaming at those children for this despicable act. The fence would also tell you about the day that the man screamed at the boy across the street for playing his drums in the garage, then calling the police. This fence would describe the man as angry and compulsive even vicious at times.

The moral of the story….  Some fences are for keeping people out, and other fences are for inviting people in.

Mark 12:30 -31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.

I am trying to love thy neighbor.