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For years, my husband, Scott, and I struggled with the biblical command to love our neighbor (Luke 10:27). How could we love them when we didn't even know them? So when we read a magazine article about a weekly neighborhood "Soup Night," we were intrigued by this possible way to get to know the people who live so close to us. When we couldn't shake the idea, and when a ministry we were involved with fizzled shortly thereafter, we decided to invest our newfound time and energy in giving Soup Night a try.
That was three years ago. Since then, Thursdays, our family's official Soup Night, have become our favorite day of the week. Our kids (Lars, seven Luke, five and Lily, two) love having friends and neighbors over for dinner every week for our six-month "Soup Season," October through March. And while the idea of having the neighborhood over for dinner once a week may seem intimidating, we've discovered it's much easier than you think. We've also found it to be the best thing we've ever done with our home.
First-Night JittersIn September, my kids help me hand-deliver invitations to the neighbors; the rest go out in the mail. They proclaim: "Come one Thursday. Come any Thursday. Bring a loaf of bread, salad, dessert, or nothing but a smile. No RSVP necessary." We never know who or how many will show up, but we know it will be an evening of good food and great conversation.
The very first Thursday we tried Soup Night, I grew increasingly nervous as the day wore on. For weeks I'd thought it was such a great idea, and I had fun preparing. But as that afternoon rolled around, the doubts crept in. I worried everyone we invited—all 30 families!—would show up at once and I'd run out of food. Then I worried no one would come. My neighbor across the street is a professional chef, and I worried the soup wouldn't be up to snuff for those with discerning tastes.
But once the first guest walked through the door (my neighbor, without her husband the chef!), my worries melted away. That first night, five families came to check it out. While we ate my own creation of Creamy Chicken with Wild Rice soup, we visited about where in the world my family had gotten the idea of Soup Night, and people introduced themselves to each other. The conversation was easy, and the soup, to my delight, was a big hit.
Over the next few weeks, the number of families attending climbed as the word got out. As the season went on, we averaged three or four families every Thursday night.
Love Thy NeighborIt's been fun to see who God brings through our door. We've had Christians and non-Christians together in a nonthreatening setting. Some families have started attending church together, while others have made social plans and arranged play dates for their kids. These friendships are able to develop as they have only through our regular get-togethers.
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