I’ve been in dozens of meetings the past several years where top-tier community leaders take on a particular crisis or problem.  Invariable, that famous question gets asked:  “What’s the root cause?”

All around the community, as more and more folks get involved, they too will ask:  “What’s the root cause?”  The stated answers come from a familiar list: poverty, child abuse, crime, drugs, lack of education or inadequate health care, etc.  I contend, however, that these are symptoms.  Symptoms of the root cause.  A root cause that is hard to recognize because it’s something that plagues everyone, not just those who are struggling.  A root cause that affects all of “us,” not just the “needy them.”

I contend the root cause is this:  People don’t really know each other anymore, which means we don’t care about each other, or care for each other.  To use scriptural language, we don’t “love our neighbors as ourselves.”  As a society, we’ve come to depend on the government and the schools and the nonprofits to do the caring.  We have cocooned ourselves from our neighbors in need.  Too often, even our own family members.  Technology and medical miracles have distanced us from pain, but also from compassion.  Only our grandparents to seem to possess those amazing stories of deep response to deep need.  Does it take a Great Depression or a Great War to produce truly good neighbors?

What would happen if we got to know each other again?  In our neighborhoods, at the office, in the schools.  It’s happening in Salem-Keizer, steadily by steadily.  Many people are compelled by the crises we face as a community.  Many folks are inspired by their faith.  People—and organization—are reaching out to build new and ongoing relationships.  The answer isn’t more food, blankets, toys and tents.  Or, money.  These commodities are needed, for sure, and we should all be generous … as a starting point.  But the real answer to the root-cause question isn’t ‘stuff.’  It’s relationship.  It’s me.

And you. Helping our Neighbor.  As an act of ongoing relationship; not occasional charity.

It can be as simple as fetching the mail and feeding the pets when neighbors are on vacation.  It can be as complicated as becoming a foster parent or walking alongside an ex-offender coming back from prison.  There are lots of options in between.  A favorite for me is being a Reading Buddy at Highland School.  Teaching Chess at Grant School, too.  Breaking bread with ‘Our New Neighbors’ through the Salem for Refugees network.  Doing business with the NW Hub, IKE Box, First Lube Plus, Sparrow Furniture and other social enterprises. Helping a teen become the first in her/his family to attend college.

People helping people.  It can be a sacrifice.  It can take us away from our leisure and our personal pleasure.  But it’s one of the best investments of time and relationship we could ever make.

Root cause?  It’s you and me.   Solution?  It’s you and me.