Love is everything

​Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to have a zoom meetup with several of the folks I went to Honduras with last summer. I hadn't had the chance to catch up with this group since I returned. It was such a blessing.

During that call, as everyone shared some of the silver linings they are discovering in this challening time, I came to realize what a foreshadowing that trip was for me.

I want to share something I wrote in the days after I returned from Honduras.

In Honduras, I saw people embracing each other's pain. I saw them embracing each other. Maybe that's the uncomfortable beauty of owning pain, of it being so in your face. When you can't run from it, when you can't pretend pain's not there, when human connection is the only answer for healing it, you become motivated by the pain of your people. You pull people in tight, right up against you; in that world an arm's distance comes to define loneliness.

Don't get me wrong. Honduras isn't a haven of people walking arm and arm singing songs of hope, although we did hear some singing. They so desperately need our help. No country, no people group, should be forced to live life with so few of the necessities of life. But in many ways, I believe the Honduran people are closer than we are to discovering the key to life: life is about learning to navigate the path of pain, not discovering the road to prosperity.

It's in that discovery that we come to rely on each other for common good, and not see each other as the competition for personal prosperity. You know, in America, I think we've been tricked into believing the path to love and happiness and togetherness is defined by comfort. They are the benefits package you inherit on the road to prosperity.

I've shared the story of the rich young ruler in the bible. The dude that thought he had it all together - followed the commandments and was the perfect human. Then Jesus told him to go sell all your stuff and follow me and let's go really love on some people. Let's go help people deal with their pain. The guy was devastated. He couldn't do it.

The price was too high for him to engage in that kind of love. I don't know what God is trying to tell us right now. I don't know if there are messages or lessons. I suppose he's got a little of both for all of us to learn in our own ways and times. But in many ways - I think the lessons I need to learn in this, maybe what God is trying to tell me personally, I learned last summer in Honduras.

Love is everything. If it's all you have - maybe you discover it's all you've ever needed.