Neighbor

So here’s what I’ve learned about my neighbor… he likes playstation (X-box?) war games (or at least games involving the constant shooting of things), he gets very angry during said war games (“We’re on the same team bro!” Profanity, profanity…), he likes to watch shows which relate to police and/or police brutality, he will only play/watch said activities (yes, I am using the word “activity” very generously here) with the sound cranked to maximum volume usually between the hours of 6am and midnight (but not necessarily so), and he likes for his Mom to make him turkey sandwiches on a regular basis... I basically live next door to Will Ferrell’s character from Wedding Crashers, minus the meatloaf… actually, I can’t be sure about that, it would be safer to bet that his Mom’s meatloaf is a part of his near future if it’s not already incorporated into his turkey sandwich and soda diet.

I wish I had a punchy “just kidding” line here, or that this was the beginning of a metaphor for something profound, or even that I’m exaggerating to some degree, but nope. Not the case.

And while his daily schedule provides consistent amusement for me and my houseguests, I can’t help but be a little bit saddened by his life choices… but why? I have never actually met him, and have no connection to him outside of our incommunicative neighborly relationship… So why do I feel this twinge of guilt/sadness connected to his daily life choices?

Possibly because I was ingrained to believe that all humans have a greater purpose (Mom and Dad- Your strong teachings of morality and ethics strike again!). And while I’ve certainly made questionable decisions in life, stumbled and fell flat on my face (metaphorically and literally) in some (okay, most) of my decisions, the possibility of not contributing was never an option for me. And I’m really, really grateful for that.

Because life isn’t easy. It’s confusing, truth is elusive, people are difficult, emotions are misleading and decisions are tricky… and the fact that God still gives us the ability of choice is beyond me. But at this point, I wouldn’t trade my life journey for a redo, even though I imagine my path through life resembling a puppy on linoleum to those looking on from heaven. But as much as I’m slipping and sliding, I’m making little bits of progress… and I’m not exactly having a terrible time along the way J