08/03/2026
Why is Loving My Neighbor So Hard? Maybe we need more practice! Read Paster John's article on Now Habersham for his take.
There was a time when I never thought twice about walking, running, lifting something heavy, or sitting through a long day. Then I injured my back in college, and everything changed.
Like many people, I reached for Advil. It got me through the day, but it never solved the problem.
Then a friend suggested physical therapy.
PT wasn't a quick fix. It required strengthening muscles I didn't even know I had and learning an entirely new way to move. It took patience, intention, and practice. Looking back, I realize it taught me much more than how to care for my back.
Our communities are hurting, too.
When loving our neighbors becomes difficult, it's tempting to avoid the people who challenge us or retreat into spaces where everyone thinks like we do. But that's the relational equivalent of taking Advil—it masks the pain without addressing what's causing it.
Maybe what we need isn't another quick fix. Maybe we need the spiritual equivalent of physical therapy: learning to listen, extending grace, and exercising compassion.
That was the heart behind our three-day program, "Loving My Neighbor Shouldn't Be This Hard!" at Nacoochee Presbyterian Church. It wasn't about ignoring our differences, it was about learning a healthier way to live with them and to walk together as neighbors again.
Healing takes time, and so does learning to love our neighbors well. But when we trust God, embrace the hard work, and refuse to give up on one another, even the hardest steps become easier.
READ ON ⬇️
