The Joy of Community

This photo makes me smile every time I look at it. Every single time. This is St. Gabriel Church in Lascahobas Haiti in the weeks before Christmas a few years back. It is a beautiful church in the middle of the city. The church is the hub of the community – with motorcycles and drivers lined up out front, ready to take you wherever you want to go for a few gourdes. When you attend mass, the doors and windows are open so, you can hear the sounds of the city. A community center is right across the street – a place filled with people learning from one another, growing in faith together, helping one another through good times and hard times.

I love the garland strung from one end of the church to the other. I love the balloons – all colors and designs. I love the tinsel – seemingly haphazard but probably placed gently and perfectly in each spot thinking of the joy it would soon bring to parishioners and townsfolk alike. Such joy!

People say Haiti doesn’t have much. When you look at economics, it doesn’t. And yet, it has so much more…togetherness, joyfulness, faithfulness, stick-to- itiveness, steadfastness, resoluteness, gutsiness, and chutzpah! When you speak of Haiti – what words will you use? As you continue your walk, consider Haiti and the friends you have there. Picture them in community. What are your words? And if they don’t make you smile…change them!