Love: it's that simple.

Even pop culture declared love is important. In the first Austin Powers movie, Burt Bacharach sang, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love." Another trustworthy source? Jesus.

Mark 12: 28-31

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

(source: biblegateway.com; New International Version 2010)

To love your neighbor as yourself. What if we all started one neighbor as we love ourself? What would that look like? Would you bring a plate of cookies? Invite your neighbor over for dinner? Seek to speak to your neighbor when you finally saw him or her outside?

Out of 6 neighbors, I have talked with 3 of them. Of those 3, I have a friendship with one (a couple). I watch their cat while they're away. They've had me over for dinner. It's a start. Since I moved in during 2009, I wanted to have a gathering and invite all of my neighbors. I have yet to do such a thing. Currently, I'm thinking of hosting something every 2nd Friday of the month, or something like that. I'd like to host something consistent to build relationships. Maybe every 4th Friday so I can actually start this month. I added making invitations to my to-do list.

If it's one thing I learned in Haiti, it is the importance of love. I went to love people. I did not love everyone I met; I'm not God nor Jesus. I was able to love by listening, praying, hugging, smiling, and laughing. I was able to love them, because God loves them. He uses us to love each other; he uses us as an extension of himself and his love.

Out of all the changes I'm mulling around in my head, I think the most effective thing I could do is to love everyone I met to the best of my ability.

I wrote these verses in my journal while in Carrefour.

Philippians 2: 3, 14-16

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and purse, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as your hold out the word of life.

May you all shine like stars (free of light pollution and cloud cover).