Almost 2/3rds of Guatemala is indigenous and its Mayan roots are all over the place once you choose to notice.
However, so many of the country’s fairly recent pains come from the marginalization of its majority- from being excluded from politics to having their natural resources exploited.
I’ve learned a lot about this struggle through the writing of Rigoberta Menchu, who grew up in a small, remote farming village and in 1992 won the Nobel Peace Prize for her organizing and advocacy.
Some of the things she writes about most include faith- building a Church and spiritual community that stands in solidarity with the marginalized, and our relationship with nature.
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Here are a few of my favorite snippets:
“I think that if one's role doesn't correspond to what one says, if one's life doesn't correspond to what one preaches, if one is not true to one's people, someone else will come as a substitute.”
“This world's not going to change unless we're willing to change ourselves.”
“To be a light to others you will need a good dose of the spiritual life. Because as my mother used to say, if you are in a good place, then you can help others”🫘
“Our reality teaches us that, as Christians, we must create a Church of the poor, that we don't need a Church imposed from outside which knows nothing of hunger. Together we can build the people's Church, a true Church. Not just a hierarchy, or a building, but a real change inside people.”
