A blessing of sanctuary - of true community

“For where two or three gather in my name,

there am I with them.”

We hardly knew how hungry we were, to receive the welcome that invited us to enter entirely into their world. God’s world. Tentative steps led to settling in, leaning into the blessing that surrounded each of us, taking our place in the circle filled with unimaginable grace.

We sat and took it all in. The love of one another. The taking care of one another. The letting in of the least of these… The inviting in of God’s grace. The women of AFAL. The way they welcome us. The way they welcome each other. Blessings beyond measure.

But the deal with this blessing is that it will not leave us alone - will not let us linger in the comfort zone. This blessing desires for us to become the sanctuary that we have found – to speak our words into the world, to tell what we have heard with our own ears, seen with our own eyes, known in our own heart.

That we are brothers and sisters with one Father. That we journey together on a path of joy and love and grace. That we are meant to walk together not alone. That we must work together to build the kingdom. That together we become sanctuary for one another.

Today, as we sit and talk, as our emotions and energies change, as we prepare for Easter Sunday, let us remember our family in Haiti. Let us remember their welcome. The unimaginable grace. And let us remember to be a blessing to each other and our friends in Haiti. Let us be sanctuary.