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Hello neighbor!

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Capt.) John Boyer
  • 87th Air Base Wing chapel
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST --  Let's face it, these days we are so busy with our lives that we barely have time to get to know our neighbors. I will admit to you, that I am guilty of living next door to a neighbor for more than six months without knowing their name. I didn't mean for that to happen. When we first moved in to our house, I can remember thinking, "Oh, we'll have to go over and meet our new neighbor." Yet, the busyness of everyday life takes hold and a couple of days turn into a couple of months.

Author Robert Putnam in a ground-breaking book entitled, "Bowling Alone," addresses what many have called the "Collapse of American Community." He argues in his book that based on sociological data, Americans have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends and neighbors. As a nation, we belong to fewer and fewer organizations that meet, know our neighbors less, meet less frequently with friends, and even socialize with our families less often. We're even bowling alone. Putnam sites that more Americans are bowling than ever before, but they are not bowling in leagues or clubs, they are bowling all by themselves.

If you think about it, many of us are guilty of spending way more time with our cell phone, computer or video game system than we are getting to know the people who live right next door to us. Sadly, somehow these electronic devices have become a substitute for face-to-face conversation, community building and relationships. As a way of helping to build stronger bonds within our base community, the McGuire Air Force Base Chapel has sponsored several neighborhood community parties.

These parties are the perfect opportunity for neighbors to get out and meet each other, build community relationships, and develop connections they might not otherwise have had the chance to grow. The idea is amazingly simple; basically the chapel shows up with free barbecue food, a bouncy house for the kids, and a laid back family-friendly atmosphere so people can get to know each other. At the most recent neighborhood party (Grove Park/Holy Crest), nearly everyone showed up to meet each other and hang out together.

"This is incredible," one resident commented, "I just met another stay-at-home mom, and we are getting together for coffee this week!"

As a chaplain, it was a real blessing to see these friendships being built before my very eyes. At the party, I saw several men gathered around the grill meeting each other talking about the upcoming NFL season, young couples with children hanging out together by the playground, and little kids running around making friends with other neighborhood kids. Several days after the party, while walking down the sidewalk to go get my mail (mostly bills), it was great to be able to say "hello" to neighbors I had just met and actually call them by their first name. So when a chapel party comes your way, get out and meet the neighbors and have some free food - at least you'll never have to go bowling alone.

For more information, including a schedule of upcoming chapel sponsored neighborhood parties, or any of our many programs for all ages, call the McGuire AFB Chapel at (609) 754-HOPE (4673).