Community

Something I have dreamt of ever sense I became serious about my faith is a community that lives like the first Chriatians did. In Acts there are stories of people coming together and sharing their resourses so that everyone always had enough. This type of sacrificial love and recognizing that NOTHING really belongs to any human being, but that EVERYTHING belongs to God is a radical but beautiful way of living. 

In today's society people may call this socialism or communism or what have you. When people love this way to honor God and to truly love one another the way God calls us to I cal it Christian community. This is what first drew me to El Salvador, and now I would like to try and give you a glimpse of it!

Here is a picture of our small group that meets on Sarurday nights. It may not look like much but if you look closely you will see that young and old are together. In the background some women are cooking food for the group, and on the right is Ricardo with his bible preparing to share the word with the group. This all may seem so simple, but I find it profoundly beautiful. Sharing food, sharing the word, working side by side; just doing life together is what community is about. 

I have seen people in this small community go through unbelievable hardships. Some have battled cancer, some have lost children to gang violence, some worry about family members as they make the dangerous journey north looking for a better life, but through all of it they are surrounded by prayer and love. 

I have said many times that the people here may not have much, but they know what is important. They love each other fiercely. This love never ceases to captivate me because unfortunately it feels rare to me. What makes it so hard to love sacrificially?  We are loved by the creator of the universe who sacrificed EVERYTHING to give us a chance at having a relationship knowing that we may reject him, so how can we not love each other well?

I'll be honest and say that I know I fail at loving others well most of the time. However, I have been so blessed to be part of this community and feel so loved and accepted by them. I feel a renewed desire to lay myself down and try to love like Jesus. How can you love better today?  What holds you back from loving? How would your life be different if you were part of a group of people that loved each other until it hurt and then loved more?  Check out Acts and see what I'm talking about!

Standing in awe of how little I know of love,

Sigourney