Chapter The Concept of Neighbor in a Global World

Technology expands our neighborhood to encompass the entire world

The first time I consciously felt the weight of the word "neighbor" was in a small town, where everyone knew everyone else. My neighbor, Mrs. Peterson, was a kind, elderly lady who always had fresh cookies on her porch. As a child, I saw her as an extension of my own family, someone I could count on for a friendly smile and a helping hand. I never questioned the geographical definition of "neighbor" back then. It was simple, concrete, and comforting.

But life, like technology, has a way of expanding our horizons. As I grew older, the lines between "us" and "them" began to blur. News broadcasts brought images of suffering from far-off lands, social media connected me to people across continents, and the internet became a window into diverse cultures and experiences. Suddenly, the concept of "neighbor" felt less about proximity and more about shared humanity.

This expansion of my understanding of "neighbor" brought a new set of questions. How can I be a good neighbor to someone I've never met, someone I might never even see? What does it mean to extend compassion and love across oceans and cultural divides? Can technology, a tool often associated with isolation, actually be a bridge to connection and understanding?

These questions lingered in my mind as I spoke with a friend, Sarah, about a recent conflict in a distant country. We discussed the complexities of the situation, the suffering of innocent people, and the challenges of finding peace. "It's difficult to feel connected to what's happening over there," Sarah admitted, "It all seems so far away."

"But isn't it closer than we think?" I asked, "We see it on our screens, we read about it online, we even share our thoughts and feelings about it with friends and family. Technology has brought the world closer, hasn't it?"

"Perhaps," Sarah replied thoughtfully, "but it also creates a sense of distance. We see the suffering through a screen, but we don't experience it directly. It's easy to feel detached, to scroll past the pain and move on to the next headline."

This conversation reminded me of the responsibility that comes with being connected to a global community. We may not be able to physically reach out to every person in need, but we can choose to be informed, to empathize, and to act in ways that promote peace and justice. We can use our voices and our resources to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering, even if they are oceans away.

The Neighbor's Face in the Crowd

Perhaps the question isn't about whether technology has expanded our neighborhood, but rather how we choose to engage with that expanded neighborhood. Do we simply observe from a distance, or do we actively participate in building a world where everyone, regardless of location, is truly seen and valued?

As Christians, we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves, but what does that look like in a world where our neighbors are not just those who live down the street but also those who live across the globe? Can we find a way to bridge the gap between the screen and the real world, between our own comfort and the suffering of others?

Perhaps the answer lies not in a definitive solution, but in a continued willingness to ask questions, to listen to different perspectives, and to engage with the world around us with compassion and understanding. It may be a challenging journey, but it is a journey that we are called to undertake, for in the digital age, our neighbors are closer than we think.