“Every revolution was first a thought in one man’s mind.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Revolutions do not begin as epic battles that shake up the world. They begin as single thoughts and convictions, brought to life through courage. Something New’s rEVOLution started with two simple thoughts: everyone has a unique gift to give their fellow humans. And everyone can use their gift to love.
Our Venezuelan friends in Lima, Peru are experiencing this revolution — a sudden, complete, and marked change in their lives, fueled by love. When Something New met these families in December, we committed to assisting with housing, food, and job support. After just a month, each person has food on the table, lives in a safe building, and has new friends and a community of support. Their lives have changed dramatically, and they are now seeking ways to help others in similar situations. They are coming together like a family –whether it’s sharing a meal, watching someone’s kids so they can work, or giving away the few soles (Peruvian currency) they have to get someone safely home. The rEVOLution is growing.
Love will keep us together.
Each Venezuelan we’ve met has reason to hate and be bitter. Angelo faced daily prejudice at his job in Ecuador, and was fired after a month without reason or pay. Kimberly’s brother was shot and killed for his motorcycle in the streets of Venezuela. Brayan ventured out one morning in Lima to sell juice, only to have his stand kicked over by one of many Peruvians who feel threatened by Venezuelans–believing the common mantra that all Venezuelans are violent and “stealing their jobs.”
Our world has become increasingly divided. Hurt creates wedges, and causes people to lash out at one another. It has become harder and harder for people from different cultures and viewpoints to simply live together as human beings. At times the division can feel overwhelming, but we at Something New will continue to invest in the one thing we know works: love.
Love unites. Love looks past mistakes, even when those mistakes have caused hurt. Love settles bitterness. And that is exactly what we are seeing with this group of Venezuelans. Not a single one is living in anger or as a victim. No one is seeking revenge or dwelling on how they’ve been wronged. They’ve experienced radical change through love, and each one wakes up in the morning with simple hope and gratefulness to be alive.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King understood the nearly insurmountable division, hurt and anger all around him. He knew the weight of the task at hand, and also understood that to change things, each person would need to take action. Not one, not two, but every single person who felt their conscience pricked. Even when everything in and around them said to shrink back.That’s the thing about revolutions, they test the endurance of the dreamers, and the only way the arc starts to bend is if the dreamers refuse to give up.
Each one of us plays a role in bending that arc. The small, individual things we do can become collective movements. We can’t each do EVERYTHING, but we can ALL do something. And that changes everything. We invite everyone to be part of this rEVOLution. To go on strike against just looking after our own needs. To rebel against the systems of division creeping in on our world. To infuse love into our communities, wherever we live.
Give today to help Venezuelan families fleeing violence, or contact us to learn about our upcoming service trips.
Love isn’t just a feeling: it’s a verb! Through small steps, we can use our gifts to change the world.
