Neighbourships

Last month my neighbour moved out. Just weeks before me. It was bittersweet because the 6 years we spent with a wall one-brick-thick between us often gave unpleasant insight into their life with their partner. Without going into detail, my neighbour used alcohol to medicate an overwhelming existence of grief and anger. Two separate nights prompted me to phone the police in the first year of being thrown alongside this couple; by life or by God perhaps. We didn't get off to a good start and I regularly considered the safety and welfare of these broken people; breaking each other in a perpetual torment of a relationship that seemed completely undesirable to me.

6 weeks ago he was sat on the bonnet of his car, stretched out like upon a sun-lounger of some European holiday resort, can in hand, pondering life.

'Go on then! Try your story on me!'

It had to be at the end of a long car journey that he wanted to hear what I had to say about God. We spent a fair while on the street, him on his car, me on the pavement, awkwardly conversing about his past, family and woes. Parting to our respective homes I was relieved to have survived a back breaking hug as he confessed his love for me and I admitted I loved him too. Time has allowed the wounds of 5 years earlier. In a way, love is a word to describe our relationship but I was relieved to part ways and end the conversation in peace.

Two further sessions of heart to hearts and apologetics followed as he invited himself into my living-room for more.

**please God how do I get out of this tangle?- You are going to have to hold the fort because I have no way of saving myself from escalation prompted by controversial conversation.**

The night ended with Paul, my God-send of a housemate having returned and joined us for an hour or so discouraging our friend from falling asleep on the sofa, head in Paul's lap- bevied. What a night!

Probably the most intimate conversation of the whole of our neighbour-ship and just days before we all leave. God only knows when these once in a lifetime chances occur.

...


To my great sadness, once again, my comfort and own business-minding is disrupted as our Neighbours in my new domicile, I am told, are prone to verbal conflict late at night... so I pray.