passing by

after reading JJ's post "conscious / unconscious" I thought about how as a child my parents always taught me to be friendly to people, to say 'hello' as you passed by someone on a walk or what not, to smile. there have been so many times when I have been out walking on the trail or passing someone in the mall that makes eye contact with me, and other such circumstances and I usually try to remember to smile and say 'hi' and it seems that very rarely is it reciprocated. our world has become a "keep to yourself" enviroment.
I've been reading a series of books by my favorite author, Lori Wick, and in these books, which are set back in the colonial days, everyone in each town knows the other, neighbors have Sunday dinners or tea together, people stop by as they pass by and visit or help whenever needed, people look in on their neighbors to see how they're doing, people cared about others. this is not something that is seen in our world today just as JJ said. now, people have to make the conscious decision to be friendly, loving, and helpful; to care. even I have to remind myself to serve others, to love others, to be like Christ and show Christ to others. its a convicting subject.