Won't You Be My Neighbor

There are lots of ways to think of ourselves in our culture these days. Often it’s as a client or a customer or a boss or worker or some other way that implies some sort of transaction. American culture is certainly VERY transactional, compared to most other countries.

But perhaps there’s a different way to think about our identity in the day to day world.

Let’s look at a modern day hero - a man who, though an ordained pastor, gave up official ministry so he could do ministry every day as a normal person.

Mister Rogers' television show captured the hearts of up to 9 million children a week for over 30 years. He received over 30 honorary degrees, won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Emmies, and was awarded the Medal of Freedom (which is America's highest civilian honor) by President George W. Bush.

Mister Rogers, however, consistently deflected praise from himself and focused instead on God because he saw himself through a different lens. In a recent interview he said, "I have never really considered myself a TV star...I always thought I was a neighbor." (Adapted from Presbyterian Today magazine).