Greetings! I trust that you are holding on, in and by faith, to the One in whose hands are our times cf. Psalm 31:14–15. Much has happened since our last conversation, and it is difficult to know where to begin; but as Julie Andrews sings in the memorable “The Sound Of Music,” the beginning is indeed a very good place to start.

I am currently writing from my place of retreat, the home of my younger brother, located in a suburb of the city of Menifee, in Southern California. This space has become my sanctuary, allowing me to rest and recover, following my retirement, at the end of August. My mind, body, and spirit were exhausted, and so I decided to grant myself an extended vacation with the primary objective of restoration. Although I spent a few weeks in New York before coming to California, I chose this location for the longer stretch (I will be here for Christmas) as it is far from the usual distractions, enabling me to embrace the quiet and stillness, that are essential for my soul’s refreshing.

While I was in New York, however, tragedy struck my beloved homeland, as a category 5 hurricane, unprecedented in its severity, devastated sections of the island’s western end. Having endured Hurricane Gilbert (category 3) in 1988, I thought I understood the impact such disasters could have, but nothing compares to the destruction I have seen in photographs, videos, and heard from the firsthand stories shared by friends and colleagues. The devastation has revealed, as far as I am concerned, the extent of human powerlessness in the face of nature’s fury. This, however, is not a reflection on Hurricane Melissa, whose legacy will be remembered for generations. It is, rather, my way of sharing with you how this period of retreat is contributing to my inner refreshment – to the restoration of shalom, and the kindling of new hope, both of which I recognize and am embracing, as gifts from God.

During this time, I am learning to value the blessing and benefits of self-care, especially regarding food, thanks to my brother, who has become my self-appointed 😊 “lifestyle coach.” I am accepting the inconvenient truth, which I have always known, that my eating habits reflect how much I value my body, which, as the Apostle Paul reminds us, is the temple of the Holy Spirit. My longstanding struggle with obesity has led to ongoing challenges, including lower back and knee pain, which severely hamper my mobility, impacting my independence. While my doctors assure me that my conditions – osteoarthritis and lumbar spinal stenosis – are not immediately life-threatening, complications could arise. Rather than constantly bemoaning my challenges, therefore, I am learning, under my brother’s sometimes harsh but loving guidance, that caring for myself begins with mindful eating. In other words, a healthy diet is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and to ensuring that the Holy Spirit is welcomed into a hospitable and uncluttered space.

This period of retreat has granted me blessings, therefore, of late mornings – no longer rushing out of bed, hurriedly talking at God, without the return courtesy of listening; racing to contend with the traffic, after breakfasts, the contents of which are nutritionally questionable (there is now a separation, en-route to divorce, between condensed milk and me😊). I have been drawing on the benefits of quiet stillness, tuning the ears of my heart to listen for the gentle voice of the One who still calls me beloved. I have reclaimed the discipline of reading, and am enjoying – learning much from a book on prayer, that explains this discipline as an experiential journey of opening to God, not limited to the utterance of words. This time has also allowed me to be reconnecting with you via this medium; and so, short, or long, this is a pause in which I am being prepared in heart and mind, for the journey home.

The recovery process, resulting from Hurricane Melissa will be long and challenging. I am working to let go of survivor’s guilt, which threatened to overwhelm me, because of not being in Jamaica, during her passage. I am perceiving, guided by the Spirit, that my role in the recovery mission – a role that requires me to be healthy in body, mind, and spirit – will be as a recipient and channel of God’s hope and healing.

The days are passing quickly, and soon Advent and Christmas will be upon us. As these seasons approach – the former a time of penitential waiting, the latter one of joyful celebration – I hope to experience God in new and renewing ways. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:10 expresses a desire to know Jesus more deeply, to experience His resurrection power and presence even in suffering, and to be obedient to the will of the Father, even unto death.

These aspirations are lofty, and while easy to speak, they are difficult to live out in real time. My hope then, is that during these days of retreat, I can bring the thoughts: hopes, dreams, and fears of my mind into my heart, where the flame of sacred love burns, and where all that cannot glorify God, will be purged. Through my efforts to eat well, and prepare mentally and physically, I am re-dedicating myself to God, for whom my soul in silence waits.

Well, this is a bit longer than the usual, but so it is. Until next time, keep safe and well, as we pray the Eternal Father to keeps our beloved Jamaica, in His grip.

Grace+