So Karina's mom is in jail right now. Not her first time either. Grandma won't even say why, she doesn't want to disappoint the kids even more. Or maybe it doesn't even matter why she's in jail - just the fact that she is says enough to Karina, Ivan, and Vanessa. And Shannon the man who runs buses is pretty angry right now. Not like hit someone angry but sad angry. I've never really seen someone like Shannon cry. You see Shannon is the type of man to make everyone else laugh. He makes everyone feel welcome and comfortable. He has done alot in his life, he's made alot of mistakes but knows it and has made the commitment to turn his life around. He has an eight year old boy named Dominique back home (not in LA) that he always talks about. Yesterday before Adopt a Block we all meet in the gym for prayer and announcements before heading out on the buses with food for the sites. Shannon came up and asked me and a couple other people to pray for him. The mother of his son tried to commit suicide the other day. He was crying. Shannon was crying. What do you even say to that? His son asked him if he wanted to die too. What do you even say to an eight year old's mother who doesn't think she's special. Who thinks that her life is worth nothing and that she's incapable of fulfilling her responsibilities as a mother. I can't imagine not having God with the weight of her world on her chest. She was led by her emotions to the point of death. She feels lonely. She feels tired and weak.
And Maria. Maria was very anxious and weary yesterday. She's been running away from her ex husband who kidnapped her son. She hasn't been able to talk to Peter or see him in a long time. Peter is in a troubled teen home in San Diego - they won't let her visit him or even talk to him. And so Maria feels scared and worried that he isn't alright. She has no idea what they could be doing to him and telling him. She lives paycheck to paycheck and her grandma just died so she's trying to raise money for a funeral. She sold her laptop for money and got fake money instead. This - this breaks my heart.
So what is my purpose in all this? Why am I here? Surely it isn't just to talk and meet people; to serve the needs of others. Or maybe it is. It's a beautiful treasure. People. People's lives are treasures. I love people. I love their lives. Everyone has a story. A history behind their name. Everyone has had feelings and emotions, thoughts and ideas.
What am I doing here? Not to be cynical and negative. But I mean really, what am I really doing here? Besides helping and learning. What is my cause and purpose? Is there more?
There is no greater joy than God's joy, no greater love than God's love. So to love others is to have no greater joy. How powerful -love. How deep = love. So once I see all that I can see, and meet everyone that I can meet - what is left? What is next? Love drives me to see and meet. The next step is also love. To do life in love. To love unconditionally. If they come to Jesus or not -love. If they cuss me out - love. If they are homeless and need food or filthy rich and full - love. If they've been gangraped multiple times - love. If they've shot heroin most of their life - love. If they've had 20 abortions and are so insecure that they don't look up anymore - love.
You see, they key is to love. That is the answer. It is the solution. Everyone everywhere needs love. Craves love. Demands love.
So I demand love from my Father. What else can He give? He is love in itself. Love is all He knows. Perfection. Joy. Hope. Perseverance. Patience. No limits and no conditions. Sky high to ocean deep love.
So I walk in love. I rest in love. I treasure my Father's love. And I ask for more of this love that drives me, will sustain me. Love is what sustains, maintains me.
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