October 14, 2026

“Neighboring” and “Othering” are two concepts embedded in our current worship series, Love One Another. In essence, we are called in Christ to be a “neighbor” to all and to make no other person an “other.” “Othering” is antithetical to the gospel, where Jesus calls us to “love our neighbor.”

…And we “other” all too often. I wish it weren’t so. We “other” by labeling, by pointing fingers, by condemning, by excluding, by speaking harshly, by mistreating, by name-calling, by… by… by…. The list goes on. Again, I wish it weren’t so. AND, I try to be more and more aware of the ways in which I “other” other people. I am trying to limit my usage of “other” as a verb and use “neighboring” more and more as a verb.

I cherish the poem “No Stranger” by Scott Cairns. (See below.) One way to avoid “othering” is to see one’s self, to see a reflection of one’s self, in each and every person we encounter. And then, possibly, hopefully, to begin to see what might be “of God” in the other.

Rev. Eric