Redeemer Family,
One of the key features of city life (as compared to suburban or country life) is close, physical proximity to neighbors. We are all up in each other’s space all the time! Proximity has the potential to create either friction or blessing. Sometimes it is a gift to be close to others, but sometimes it’s a real pain!
One place of potential friction or blessing is Redeemer’s proximity to the VMFA. Every Sunday we host our coffee hour on their lawn and we experience the blessing of the beautiful space they have cultivated. However, there are moments when we wonder if our proximity is a blessing to the VMFA.
As we contemplate what it means for us Redeemer folk to be good neighbors here in the city, let’s think carefully about how we conduct ourselves when we are out in public spaces like the VMFA during coffee hour on Sunday morning.
Are we warm and friendly to VMFA employees?
Are we cleaning up after ourselves?
Are we leaving spaces better or worse than we found them?
Are we ensuring that our children are not harming the art installations or the landscaping?
Are we disrupting our other city neighbors who are enjoying the outdoors?
Some of the answers might be a resounding “yes!” But we have recently learned that some of the answers are, sometimes, “not so much.”
Occasionally (not every week) we are guilty of leaving litter behind us, of our children messing with landscaping and art installations, and disrupting other city folk who are seeking a peaceful Sunday morning outdoors.
So friends, let’s see if we can do better.
Everyone, let’s give extra care and attention to cleaning up after ourselves.
Parents, please continue to parent your kids during coffee hour and not let them run wild. (Or specifically delegate care of your children to another adult).
Everyone, let’s be attentive to those around us at the VMFA and be as gracious as possible.
Ah, city life. It’s great isn’t it? Thanks everyone for giving this your attention and effort. The way the VMFA experiences our presence will inform what they think of both our parish and the Gospel we profess.
In the Father’s love,
