Love Thy Neighbor? Hmph!!!

I sit here, writing this post to the sound of chain saws. Large ones and small ones. All going at different times. I just do not understand the need or the desire of man to destroy things, especially trees. Our earth is spiraling toward destruction. Trees are the one thing that helps keep the planet going. So why are people hell bent on cutting them down?

In my case, its because a backyard neighbor convinced the neighbor to the right of me to cut down his tree. The backyard neighbor is more than happy to pay for it and offered to do so. His reason? The leaves are getting in his inground pool, and the tree is blocking out the sunlight. Yes, that is right. The leaves are messing up his pool. The same pool that shifted the water table and floods the corner of my yard and most of my neighbor’s yard. The trees at least soaked up part of the water.

This same backyard neighbor has asked to cut down my trees as well. He says the trees are putting clutter in his yard. I am guessing he means the leaves that fall off the tree each year. He also made it clear that he has pictures of this so called “clutter.” He calls my tree a scrub tree, worthless in his eyes. I call it a gift from God as it was created by God. It sits in the back corner of my yard, not hurting anyone or anything. Giving shade and beautiful color. Until today.

I refused to let the backyard neighbor cut down my corner tree. Sadly, my side neighbor happily agreed. His tree is or was next to my tree. They kept each other company, in my eyes anyway. They grew together as one, bringing much shade and character to the back corner. Until now.

His tree, the one kissing my tree, is now gone. A void now sits where his tree once did. The corner is much more vacant and sparser looking. No doubt, to the glee of my backyard neighbor. The same neighbor who has climbed the fence and reached over to cut down anything he could reach in my yard, claiming it was his right. Since when was trespassing into someone else’s yard a right?

What does this have to do with spiritual formation? Well, for starters, there is my response. My initial response was to yell at the guy and threaten him should he or his tree cutter come in my yard. My next response was to put dog poop in the back yard by his precious pool. I am still considering that one.

You say, well, Janet, that is not very Christian. No, it is not. I don’t feel like being a Christian right now. I feel more like a child and want to act like one. I am very big on protecting the wildlife and earth, and the needless destruction of cutting down trees hits me to the core. Quite simply, this guy is an idiot. I actually have a much shorter word for him that describes him perfectly. It begins with an A.

But that is not like Jesus either. What would Jesus do? He would probably sit down and talk to the backyard neighbor, trying to understand his point of view. No doubt, they would probably break bread together. I would like to break a very stale loaf of bread over this neighbor’s head but that is not what Jesus would do.

We are called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. That is not very easy for me to do as I hear the sounds of chain saws revving in my ears. Oh, how I pray for just one bolt of lightning to come down and scare the crap out of those tree trimmers. Maybe shorting out my back yard neighbors inground pool. Sigh…

But that is not right either. None of that is right in the eyes of Jesus. So, what is right? Is the pain and anger that I am experiencing right? Yes, I know the laws about branches hanging over people’s yards. I happen to know my neighbor beside me quite well and he has helped me on many occasions. Maybe that is what makes it so much harder. The feeling of betrayal over a tree. How do I still love him?

This isn’t easy stuff. There are a lot of emotions to consider. Maybe you have experienced something like this yourself. Maybe it wasn’t a tree but something else. Maybe a friend betrayed you or forgot about you. Maybe someone threw trash in your yard. I saw someone’s house toilet papered on my bike ride this morning. I can imagine how the people living at that house feel. They even did one of their trucks. Talk about being violated and embarrassed.

Growing spiritually happens out of stuff like this. Each day we experience crap. Each day we are tested in our faith and our behavior. Most days I fail the test. Even if I were to pass a test or two, I end up failing it again at another time.

Jesus says to love Him and love one another. In good times and bad. Friends, family, and enemies. We are to love everyone just as Jesus did. We are to forgive others too, just like Jesus forgave us.

When we can respond to something in a way Jesus would without struggle or question, that is transformation. We have transformed into the image of Jesus, allowing us to respond more and more easier with each trial or temptation.

So, how did I handle today? After having my temper tantrums and spouting off my mouth at various times while waiting for this day to come? I let it go. This was not my war to fight.

I was outside when they pulled up. I listened and watched as they pulled out their equipment. I watched the backyard neighbor talk to my next-door neighbor as they discussed what was going to happen.

My next-door neighbor assured me he would not let anything happen to my tree on “my” side. Do I trust him? Or do I stand out there with my phone camera in hand, videotaping everyone and threatening legal action should something happen to my tree. By the way, it’s not my tree, it’s God’s.

I could quote you tons of Scripture about loving your neighbor and not being a rebel rouser. Feel free to check out 1 John 4:20-21, Matthew 22:36-40, Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:31, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Matthew 22:39, and so on.

Painfully, I came inside without saying a word to anyone. Painfully, I sit, listening to the sound of their chain saws chopping away at a beautiful and innocent tree. The saws are now silent, the sky has grown dark, and rumbling is filling the air. Yes, a blessed storm has formed right over my house.

But my mind goes dark and I wonder where was this storm an hour ago? Before they started to cut down the trees? But God is never early and never late. He is always on time. Despite what I think. But seriously, just one bolt of lightning to take out the guys inground pool? Yes, I have a dark side. Especially since the power has went out three times now while trying to create this post.

Rain pours down from the sky reflecting my heart. The tree in my neighbors’ yard and the branches that loomed over from my tree are now gone. It is vacant and sparse in the far corner. Will my lonely and pared down tree survive? Only God knows.

The rain has subsided, the storm has passed but the pain in my heart is still fresh. My mind numb with the thoughts of what lies outside. I stayed inside. I kept my mouth shut hoping for God to fight this battle for me. Meanwhile, I have bags of poo from my fur baby’s walk sitting in a pail next to the garage. I must keep telling myself. This is not my battle; this is not my battle.

Peace,

Janet