Social benefits of 'porching'

The house I grew up in had a fully screened porch across the front of the house. In the summer, many evenings were spent on the porch after supper, waiting for the temperature to cool down.

Neighbors followed the same routine. Being on the porch had a social benefit. Other neighbors would be out for a stroll. They would stop to talk with neighbors on their porches. They shared family news, complaints about the heat and humidity or just pleasantries.

Politics or religion were never a topic as most attended Christian churches and maintained an acceptance and respect for neighbors’ views, even when most all knew all about each other’s family history. The saying was, “they know you’re dead before you’re dead.”

The atmosphere in a small town was living the golden rule of “treat others as you want to be treated.” The Christian concept maintained a sense of harmony for everyone’s benefit.

I could ride my bicycle to the park along the Mississippi River at the north end of town or to Old Mill Park at the east end of town. A safety factor was residents might be on a front porch to wave at neighbors as they drove by or outside working in the garden and yard.

The values of Christianity were embedded in the residents, providing a concern for safety and well-being of others in the community.

The values were transmitted from the several religious denominations in the community. Regardless of which denomination one belonged, residents attended the annual church dinners. The Congregational members had buckwheat pancakes, the Methodists had shredded chicken over fresh biscuits and the Catholics served spaghetti and meatballs with real sauce. It was an idyllic yesteryear of American history.

The good news is, there is an attempt today to revive such a time now called “porching.” This is a reaction to seeing neighbors’ social isolation behind the locked gates. Where the porch once was in front of the house, it has been replaced by the garage with houses inside a gated community or where each home is separately gated.

The creation of the word “porching” is not about the porch but about people needing and wanting to get together and share. A simple human fact is people need to connect with live people and not just the familiar people on cable news or entertainment programs.

Today, the porch conversation is inviting neighbors into the home, backyard or in older neighborhoods: on a real porch. The purpose is to make old and new neighbors feel comfortable by sharing conversation in getting to know each other.

The Christian respect for personhood and dignity of others is finding a new “porch.” The bedrocks of a civil society continue to benefit by being neighborly. The foundational human and Christian values of respect and love for others creates a community of peace.

Tucson faith leaders, we would like to include your original sermon or scriptures of encouragement. Sermons must be written by the person submitting them, not borrowed from another source or writer. If you are a faith leader from any religion or denomination, please contact Sara Brown at sbbrown@tucson.com.