Bring Back the Front Porch

After MUCH reflection,

I have figured out the problem with America.

It's not the right or the left or the center.

It's not the Baptists or the Methodists or the Lutherans.

It's not the Cold War, the Civil War, or Star Wars.

Nope.

It's the 

front porch.

Or, more specifically, 

it's the demise of the front porch.

With urban sprawl (whatever that is...),

we built modern houses and neighborhoods

without front porches or sidewalks,

because we need our privacy.

So we have built behind every house, a secluded outdoor living space.

 Away from prying eyes and the sounds of the street.

We love it - no matter how low budget, thrift store, redneck.

But we have forfeited knowing our neighbors.

We don't know when the Olson's are on vacation

 because someone else picks up their papers.

We don't know that the new neighbors next door

have three little boys and one on the way.

We wouldn't know that the Daddy 

let those same little boys 

ride on the leather couch on the trailer on moving day.

We don't know about the guy sitting on the tailgate 

holding a barbecue pit with one hand and waving with the other

or the man standing in the back of his truck 

balancing a floor lamp while his wife drives.

And we don't know about the man on the Harley,

trying to convince his very disgruntled rider 

to get back on.

We would miss waving at

 all the couples, families and friends

 that walk or bicycle by on warm still evenings.

 Let's bring back front porches.

It's a place for a cool drink after a hard days work.

 Problems get smaller as the front porch

breeze blows them away.

Nothing is more relaxing or inviting 

than fern baskets and rocking chairs.

And besides all that,

How in the world would we know when our yards

have gone to 

POT

Courtesy of the Church Youth Group Fund

Raiser.

Come on over and still a spell..... 

ummm.... on the porch.