| Like many of you, I grew up watching Mr. Rogers on PBS. And like the thousands of other children who watched the show, I felt as if I knew him—as if this kind and patient man were truly my friend. My confidence in Mr. Rogers was further bolstered when my neighbor excitedly reported that her dad had sat next to Mr. Rogers on an airplane! She reported that Mr. Rogers was indeed kind, attentive, and friendly. Better yet, I learned from my friend, he was a pastor! Her dad and Mr. Rogers had spoken together of their shared love for Jesus. For this reason and many others, I took one of my daughters to see “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” this past weekend; we’ve also watched the documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” as a family. Despite the current cultural fascination with Mr. Rogers that, at times, elevates him to superhuman perfection, Fred Rogers was not perfect; he was not a saint. (In fact, in the new movie, his wife directly makes this point.) But Rogers was a devout Christian man who was shaped by important spiritual habits, including spending daily time in Scripture and regularly praying for others by name. He was formed by the love of Christ and saw his television program as his ministry. This week’s featured article, “The Quiet Liturgy of Mr. Rogers,” reflects on how his daily invitations into neighborliness invite us to more deeply consider Christ’s call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Another article, “Judea, Suburbia, to the Ends of the Earth,” is also fitting to reflect on. Just as Mr. Rogers viewed his television show as a ministry to young viewers, this article provides inspiration and ideas for how we can approach our regular lives in suburban neighborhoods with a ministry mindset. Decades later, I am continuing to learn from Mr. Rogers. In light of the Thanksgiving holiday, here’s an observation from Fred Rogers regarding gratitude: “I believe that appreciation is a holy thing, that when we look for what’s best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we’re doing what God does; so in appreciating our neighbor, we’re participating in something truly sacred.” As you gather with family and friends today, may God give you the grace to appreciate the people before you. May your time spent with your family and loved ones be truly sacred. |
