Here we are a couple days away to New Year I am trying to come up with a resolution. Well, I thought I could run from a zero to a 360. And in fact, that’s been my status for so long. Yes, I want to do everything new and try anything of my choice. All changes start within, and as an avid believer I turned to faith to start the journey. I grew up in a Christian Baptist church. Not because I wanted to, but the orphanage I grew up in Haiti was an extension of a Baptist mission charity located in Michigan. In between the metamorphosis of the Haitian folklore, I remain Christian Baptist all my life.
Not until Christmas, I decide to try something new. My friend Bernie from an episcopal church in Middlebury invited me for Christmas service. It was an opportunity to see him, have some coffee and talk about race and philosophy.
Bernie and the priest welcomed me at the door. The priest told me I could sit anywhere, and I looked like a first row guy. I took that as a compliment and sat in the first row. If something good is coming from the altar I think I'll be the first one to catch it. My friend told me he believes I'll be fine. Just watch the ushers.
Unlike most catholic churches with a statue of Jesus Christ on the cross, that one had a painting depicting the parable of the Lost Sheep. For one minute while singing the hymn for offering I got stuck looking at that picture. I was gazing at it all the time and wondering if I just got lost or found while an usher gestured to me to sit down. I was in the first row; I could not describe what happened behind me. That reminds me when ironing my clothes, I put more focus on getting the front well done because I am careless what others see or say behind me.
I must also say I was the only colored person in the entire church. For about an hour and a half I passed the test of time. I meant the very old ones. Most of the hymns, not to say all of them, were dated back to the 16th,17th,18th and up to the 19th centuries. We also prayed for all sinners, and everything was done in unison.
Bernie asked me to hang around at the hall for coffee after church. Once service was dismissed, I joined a group of elders in the hall. Everyone was jolly and expressed good feelings about Christmas. I met an older lady who said she was from France and comparing European Christmas to American's. She said here has a sense of community especially while at the grocery store people in the community would wave hi or say something nice to her. She just turned 92 years old. She was standing straight and said: most of my friends are either six feet under or are looking down to the ground. In my mind I was like there is no need to fact check that. Another thing, it is not wise to call anyone that old a liar. I chatted with her for a while in French while waiting for my friend to put the cross and gown down, so we would be homogenous.
When he came out to the hall, I was now surrounded by many more folks. Some were asking where I am from or where I live. Others asked if I would come back. I looked at my friend and was like no promise, but I will be back sometime soon.
We dismissed ourselves and went to the coffee shop across the street and dive into more caffeine. I ordered a large dirty chai with two shots of espresso. He paid for my order, and we sat down talking about philosophy and social matters. For me that was a time to debrief and decompress. I felt like a well-behaved lad. I also took communion which in many churches is a special moment exclusively for their members.
The coffee shop brought me into modern times. The art on the walls was not fancy, but enough to be a quiet section of a museum in a big city. The clientele were mostly young college students with diverse personalities. I could hear many accent, and other languages that wasn't near english. The only scripting in the cafe is the menu. Once I got my order I could choose to sit anywhere.The restroom wasn't marked, It is just around the back corner. Don't take my word as a first timer you may need to ask.
My friend thanked me for joining him for Christmas service as we were browsing our plans for the rest of the day. He was going to hang out with his wife and grandchildren to celebrate Christmas. I told him to remember to dance, and it's a great exercise to keep one out of physical therapy. We parted ways and were eager to take the beautiful drive back to Burlington.
On my side, I had scheduled a call with my extended family in South Carolina. For many years we have had the tradition to celebrate together. During the day my best friend and I would go around the yard picking up wood fire for the night while sipping on a nice cold beer and catching up. Later we gathered with family, friends and some neighbors. We played games and shared gifts. We have some good food, drinks and laughs around the firepit.
We sometimes have some discussions that do not always turn out well. I remember the last time one person got offended because another guest had a ball of cotton on the dash of his car. I was told it was a symbol of his clothing brand. I may not be well educated to understand the depth of his reaction. I recall seeing a large cotton field a couple miles away on the way to that place. You can't skip it, and I wonder if the offended person didn't see that too.
The next day we woke up early, happy around the Christmas tree opening gifts, cards, all the good stuff that reminds us we're family, and how much we mean to each other.
This time going 360 everything took another direction. I have been busy with medical interpreting. I had the chance to spend time with a Haitian patient. For the first time it felt like a full time job, and I enjoyed it more. We spoke Haitian creole all day long. We talked about the problems back home and some possible solutions. No one heard us and no one cares anyway.
For the first time I felt just right at the right moment.
