Over the past few months of living in Guatemala and being immersed in the culture here, I have come to some simple thoughts from my observations. I have received comments on the past blogs, that fell into two different sentiments – one is people finding inspiration at what we are trying to do and the other is how sad the situation is here. I hope you can find some inspiration in this blog even though I am not writing it from a place of awe.

It has been interesting working to establish a project for children that is based on compassion for children that not many people, even in their own country, care about. Heather and I are sometimes asked, “is Project Somos a religious mission?” Our answer is most often no, but sometimes, depending upon who is asking the question, the answer is, “Our only religion is Love.” We have the same response about our politics.

As far as I have studied and know, the saints and prophets of every religion and spiritual tradition came to improve the lives of humans. Each in their own way encouraged and charged their communities with caring for those in need. Their missions were as much to do with living a harmonious and abundant life as they were about divinity and arriving at an after life in paradise.

I admire all of these Light-holders, who tried their best to illuminate and free humanity from the various levels of ignorance. . I am convinced that as human beings we are all accountable for each other’s welfare and responsible for what is in front of us at any given moment. For me what happens on a moment-to-moment and day-to-day basis takes my attention more than speculating on what happens after my last breathe.

There are a few lines below that I try to remember and live by every day, and in some moments those words are painful because of the extreme economic gap here and the resulting suffering that is so apparent. I understand that personal pain and suffering is a part of life and that is not the problem. Complacency and indifference, birthed out of an egocentric orbit of self-interest is the disturbing problem in Guatemala and in most cultures.

What you do to the least of your brothers and sisters you do to Me.

Jesus

Love the whole world as a mother loves her only child.
Buddha

It is very difficult for me to embrace this whole world with all of its dark side. Easy to love the beautiful, the bright, the loveable. Unconditional love of a mother is simply that, loving without conditions, loving everything, not just what the small mind says is worthy. Simply to understand, difficult to do spontaneously.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

I take refuge and comfort in the fact that Heather and I are not working alone, but with many intelligent and active people with loving hearts, willing to assist in the Children’s Village. I trust that the momentum and impact of the many millions of hearts and minds working together in humanitarian endeavours throughout with world will bring about a great positive shift in how this world operates and how we care for “the least of our brothers and sisters.”

Hope Rules,

Greg