It was almost ten years ago that I came back from a
mission trip with a challenge that God had put on my heart. I had spent five days in the town of
Booneville, Arkansas. One of the local
pastors asked us to spend time walking the streets of that economically
challenged community praying for the town and its people. I came back determined to prayer-walk our
entire city of 25,000. It took me about
eight months but I accomplished my goal.
I met some interesting people and came away captivated by the diversity of
Farmers Branch, Texas. There is one
impression that remains with me to this day.
Some nights I would walk blocks past manicured lawns and
fine homes. On those evenings the only
sounds were an occasional mower or the whirring of a sprinkler head. Other evenings I passed homes where neighbors
were on the porches or standing in their driveways. On those evenings I often struggled to walk a
few blocks before the sun started to set.
People were curious. They wanted
to engage in conversation. My only regret
was my Spanish was limited to a few words.
Most of the time, I had to rely on someone to be my translator. My conclusion: Anglos are content spending
their evening inside the comfort of their homes, while Hispanics enjoy a sense
of community. In the Hispanic
neighborhoods, families were often eating outside, sharing food and fellowship with
their neighbors. Neighbors were helping
each other with projects, like putting new brakes on a truck or making repairs
on their homes.
I thought of my experience last week as I watched the
residents of El Paso, Texas mourn together after the tragic events in their
town. My only time in El Paso was spent
in the airport making a connection on Southwest Airlines. I have spent extended time in other border
towns. I have been on mission trips to
McAllen, Brownsville and Del Rio. On my
trips into interior Mexico our passage point was always Laredo, Texas. The impression stays with me. There is a real sense of community in each of
those cities. People want to engage in
conversation. They want to extend
hospitality and are ready to help in any way possible. They also know how to cook and their entire
celebrations center around food and friends.
They also watch out for and protect each other. If there is crime, it usually comes from
outside the neighborhood.
In the most recent case, the people of El Paso also know
how to grieve together. The population
of El Paso might surpass 650,000 but in actuality it is a community of
neighborhoods. People work and worship
together. They support and watch out for
each other. While I sensed a lot of
grief, I did not hear a lot of anger. I
heard little discussion about gun control, rather the focus was on healing and
sending a message that “we will get through this together.”
“In
this world, you will have trouble.
But
take heart, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
While politicians and lobbyist argue about gun control
and security from domestic violence, I believe God has called us to be people
of hope in a broken and hurting world.
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