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Loving the belligerent neighbor
One morning I was thinking about the first line in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings” (Mary Baker Eddy, p. vii). The thought came to me that, to the degree to which I lean on God, to that same degree my experience is filled with happiness and holiness.
As a real estate developer, I purchase, renovate, and resell houses. My first stop that day was at a house I had recently purchased, and work inside the house was underway. As I got out of my car, a neighbor came over to greet me. Most neighbors appreciate how we take the ugliest house in the neighborhood and turn it into one of the most beautiful ones, so I was expecting a pleasant encounter. Unfortunately, this man’s attitude was anything but pleasant. He immediately went into a tirade about how the driveway of this house was encroaching on his property.
I tried to reason with him. He had a large property with plenty of space between our houses. Was the four-inch encroachment really a problem for him? And if so, why hadn’t he brought this up with the previous owner during the ten years he was aware of the problem, or even alerted the real estate agent who had the property on the market for over a year? Regardless, he began to attack me and my business. When I explained I was simply making an honest living, he said even crueler things. As he got angrier and more unreasonable, I felt smaller and weaker. It was one of those rare moments when I wished I were back at my own house, simply caring for my home and family.
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About the author
Jan Duke lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and daughter.
