Demos gracias por su amor (Let's give thanks for his love)
Por la mañana las aves, cantan (In the morning the birds sing)
Las alabanzas de Cristo el Salvador (The praises of Christ the Savior)
Y nosotros tambien cantamos (And we too sing)
Las alabanzas de Cristo el Salvador (The praises of Christ the Savior)
Since coming to Pital, not a week has gone by that I have not sung this song. It only seems appropriate that the congregation of La Iglesia de Dios es Amor (God is Love Church) would give thanks for the love of God every time they gather. Yet I still am in awe, witnessing weekly the enthusiasm and devotion with which they sing this song. No matter their life circumstances they never fail to thank God of his love.
Perhaps what has surprised me most was hearing this song when we gathered the Thursday after the plebiscite vote. The Presbyterian Church of Colombia (IPC) was the only denomination in the country to officially support the peace accords, and the church of Pital supported that decision. The week following the plebiscite, in which the accords were rejected by a margin of less than one percent, was full of grief over the lost chance at peace and worry over what would happen to the cease-fire. And yet still the church sang their praises and thanks.
Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (NIV). My sisters and brothers in Pital understand what this means to our faith. Even in our lowest moments, in our times of desolation, pain, and worry, Christ remains. When this world beats us down we can find comfort and strength in the love of God and the hope of our Savior.
And for that we can always give thanks.