By QuaWanna Bannarbie

Surprises happen. I was in front of the mirror this Thursday morning before 7 a.m., preparing for my day, when the lights went out.

My first thought, as I looked up at the three-bulb light fixture above the mirror, was to suspect that the last bulb had finally joined its burned-out partners. (I should have changed those bulbs a long time ago.) As I headed to the laundry cabinet to retrieve more bulbs, I immediately knew that it was not just the mirror lights when I noticed the modem was out also.

“We do not have power,” I thought. I began to look outside to see if anyone else lost power. I did not see any clear indications. I picked up my cell phone and texted two neighbors in close proximity to me. Neither responded right away. Then about 15 minutes passed, the mother of one of my children’s friends who lives on the same street sent a text: “(Good morning). Are your lights out?” I was relieved to see her message, and I confirmed that I was also in the dark. After she responded, a closer neighbor called. She told me that Dominion Virginia Power was running an automated message informing us that approximately 360 residents were without power. She did not know the cause of the outage, but she had put my mind at ease, giving me the freedom to move on with my day. I headed to the backyard to do work in the garden.

Away from my phone and the doorbell, I was not aware that a senior neighbor had walked over to my home. My son, running outside to find me in the garden, made me aware of her visit. I assured her that I knew of two other homes in the neighborhood who were experiencing the same. She was relieved and said, “Oh good. I thought it was just my house.” I gave her my contact information so that she would not have to walk to the door in the future. She was excited to exchange information with me, and it blessed me to have eased her concerns.

When I returned to the garden to work, a profound message came to me in regard to the communication that had taken place between my neighbors and me that morning. Until each of those neighbors connected with another neighbor who confirmed that they were experiencing the same thing, they thought they were alone in the darkness. The fact that they had a neighbor to call on brought peace even when the outcome was unknown.

We live in Applewood Farms. This “lights out” surprise reminded me of the tornado that devastated Applewood Farms on April 28, 2008. The Suffolk News-Herald ran memorial coverage exactly four weeks ago today that shared several stories of the victims of that tornado. Many of those reflections emphasized the value of the community that helped neighboring families get through a difficult time. Editor Tracy Agnew wrote that the tornado helped shape Suffolk and the experience of growing friendships and stronger neighborhoods is “the mark of what’s truly a community rather than just a bunch of people living near each other.”

When hardship is present, the evil one wants to make us think we are isolated. These thoughts discourage relationship building. But the Bible teaches us that we were made for community for good and for bad times. “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT). The world is dark. Doing life in a community makes life brighter.

“When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No, I won’t be afraid
No, I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me”
(“Stand by Me,” John Lennon)

The beauty of community and its invaluable impact on your personal and communal successes is often most noted during times of crisis and unwelcome surprises. We need each other to survive. Anyone who says that they do not need their neighbors is a liar. Take the time to exchange hellos and contact information this week. You never know when you may need your neighbor.

QuaWanna Bannarbie is an adjunct professor of Nonprofit Leadership and Management with Indiana Wesleyan University, National and Global. Her children attend Suffolk Public Schools. Connect with her via Twitter @QNikki_Notes.