Boundaries

Yesterday, walking into church we pass this older couple.  They don’t even glance at us.  “Would it break the commandments to smile or say hello?” I whisper to DeRay when we get inside.  Even if we’re not in their ward, we’re fellow human beings; and we’re definitely neighbors, unless they are visitors. 

The three wards going to our building are on basically three streets:  Country Road, 4^th Ward; Raymond Road, 7^th Ward; Country Lane, part of Green and Edgehill, 5^th Ward.  Except for a few of us, everyone’s backyard backs the yard of someone in either the 4^th or 5^th ward.

Moreover, being part of the human family; a friendly smile and greeting seem appropriate when you pass within inches of each other on the sidewalk.  I tried to catch their eye to say hi but it’s as if we weren’t there.  Maybe I was a little hesitant after my experience with the walker this week.

Being ignored reminded me of the commentary I wrote when the ward was divided when we lived in our home on the hollow.  This was our third division since moving to Kaysville sixteen years earlier.  The first one in 1974, split us from everyone east of Fairfield leaving us with most of Mutton Hollow.  Then they divided the Stake down Fairfield and we were in a ward with everyone west of Fairfield from Mutton Hollow to Crestwood, including three Assisted-Living Complexes.  This last division split 6^th north putting the north side with us as well as the west part of Mutton Hollow including Tanner Acres, which is government subsidized housing (we called the chicken coops) with lots of move-ins and outs. Essentially, we were cut off from everyone in Kaysville.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

We are divided.

Does Christianity know boundaries?

Are the folks more chosen

On one side of the street

Or is Christianity universal?

Can we still walk and talk with friends

Who worship in another building;

Share joys of missions, marriages,

Babies and baptisms;

And comfort one another in sorrows

That seep into every home?

In the weeks and months to come

Will we practice Christian virtues

We talk so much about,

Making life less difficult for

One another

Whether or not we are in the same ward

And assigned?

Or will the new boundaries

Define and confine

Our Christianity.

                         Jeanette Hugh

                         October 26, 1986