The Insistent Neighbor

Stopping the Race Race to Enjoy the Present Moment

It was a summer scorcher. I was mowing my lawn and racing to finish it. As I dumped the last bag of grass and prepared to clean up around the house, I felt as if someone was staring at me. I subtly looked over my shoulder and saw my neighbor standing in his driveway with his hands on his hips and staring at me.

I went about my business as if I did not see him. But as I continued to clean up, it became obvious he was still staring. So I looked at him and politely waved without taking off my headphones or breaking my pace. He politely waved back.

But he kept staring.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I stopped the blower and took off my headphones.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

“Good! Why don’t you come over and get in the lake to cool down?”

“Nah, that’s ok. I need to finish up here.”

Undeterred by my refusal, he tried again. “I absolutely insist. Come over, and we'll jump in the lake and talk for a while.”

“You know, I really don’t like to get in lakes (I am weird like that), but I sure appreciate the offer!”

“Well, I won't stop asking until you come over.”

I humbly submitted. I was going to cross that street and get in that lake. His insistence overpowered my excuses to finish cleaning up around my house.

I walked behind his house and waded into the cool water with my clothes on. It felt really good. Before long my neighbor came out of his house and he was smiling from ear to ear with a beverage in each hand. He shared one with me as he got in the water. For the next hour, we talked, cooled down, and watched the sunset paint the evening sky.

It was good. And I will never forget it.

It wasn’t anything he said that opened my eyes or changed my perspective. It was his simple insistence that I stop the hundred-mile-an-hour rat race and take time to enjoy the moment, the conversation, and what is around me.

I learned a profound life lesson that day in the lake thanks to my neighbor- sometimes you just have to stop and breathe and enjoy the present moment.

Question

1. What would it look like this week for you to stop the rat race and savor the moment? I would love to hear how you did it and what you did instead.

Peace,

Brandon