It has been a month since I’ve moved to Peru and started working with Nexos Comunitarios and I can confidently say that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
A year ago, I was struggling with an existential crisis during my final year of university until I came upon one word. ‘Agape’. ‘Agape’ means unconditional love in Greek and the word has become a foundation to who I am. Friends who know me are aware that I have a tattoo of the word to symbolize a lifestyle I strive to base my life upon. To show love to those unloved and neglected.
In this past month, I have been repeatedly challenged on how hard unconditional love really is. I have been constantly exposed to the extent of brokenness, division, and injustice that exists in this world. At times it seems that all our efforts are hopeless; that no matter how hard we try these ugly things will continue to persist. In my time here, I was struggling with the question of how dire a situation needs to be to be considered hopeless; and that if I knew it was hopeless, would I still try. I realized that the fact I even tried to rationalize this meant I’ve already failed at unconditional love. Loving others shouldn’t be dependent upon whether others will receive or appreciate it, rather you love regardless of the results.
By no means is this an easy task. I’ll admit that I am nowhere close to perfecting it, nor do I think I ever fully will. So why am I trying so hard?
Because among all that ugliness lies so much hope. I’ve seen people with self-sacrificial compassion go to boundless lengths to reach the unloved. I’ve seen people come together, in spite of their differences, to fight for what’s right. I’ve seen the worst of people make 180- degree transformations once someone took the time to show them their true worth and potential. I believe that everyone deserves to be loved and has the capacity to love. I try because I believe that a better world is possible, and I want to do whatever I can to get a little closer to it. Yes, sometimes it can be tough and our efforts may seem useless, but sometimes a single smile can make it all worth it.
