Reflections on the climb

Up-Hill
by Christina Rossetti

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
Yes, to the very end.
Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.


But is there for the night a resting-place?
A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May not the darkness hide it from my face?
You cannot miss that inn.


Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gone before.
Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?
They will not keep you standing at that door.


Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.


I´ve said in earlier posts that somehow I find the words of others more fitting and more moving than my own when I´m trying to express some profound sentiment. Most of the climb up the Pico Duarte I was thinking about the above poem of Christina Rosetti. In reality, the road up the mountain was, indeed, uphill all the way. It did indeed take the whole long day -- from morn to night. As it was for Rosetti, my own physical journey was metaphor for the spiritual journey. Some reflections then:

1. It ain´t easy. In 21st century USA we seem to have developed a sense that life should be easy, smooth, and problem-free. Maybe it´s because we have found so many ways to protect ourselves from the physical difficulties and discomforts of this world -- we are accustomed to heat in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, ample food when we are hungry (and when we are not), closets full of clothing to choose in whatever weather or season, cars and trains and planes and buses to transport us from one place to another without the effort of walking long distances.
Try as we might to avoid the reality: the road winds uphill. The way is steep and rocky. Sometimes the exertion is arduous, and seems more than we can bear. Here in this country I have been aware, every day, of how much steeper the way is for the average journeyer in the Dominican Republic. So many have little to shield them from the difficulties of life. Some collapse along the way, and give up, because the exertion is too great. But some manage to continue, finding the strength and the determination to put one foot in front of the other.

2. You need a guide. Joel and Rocelio knew the way to the top of the mountain. They loved their work, and counted it a joy to be able to be on the journey to such a remarkable place. Both were confident, sure-footed, and strong. And they watched out for me, doing their best to keep me on the path. And at the point when I was injured, they showed genuine concern.
Such is the spiritual life, too. All who walk the uphill way of the journey in Christ need guides. I have been so blessed to have so many guides and companions on the journey -- guides who have been sure-footed, confident, and strong when I have been weak. I hope and pray that I have been so to those entrusted to my care.

3. Sometimes you need a mule. I doubt that I could have ever have made it to the summit without the aid of Paloma. Although she had something of a mind of her own, in the long run she knew her job and she did it. Without complaint, without asking questions. When I couldn´t walk, she did the walking for me. When I couldn´t carry my own weight, she carried me.
We are so used to being independent, free agents, we forget that we can´t do it all, and we can´t do it all the time. And to be carried by the mule was not a passive endeavor anyway. I had to learn how to shift my weight to counterbalance her movements -- when to lean forward, and when to lean back. And I needed to learn to hold on and trust the instincts of the pack animal.
I am grateful for so many who have carried my weight, when I could not go any further. They are hard working, faithful servants who uncomplainingly, without asking questions, forge ahead, seeking only the most meager of rewards.

4. There is beauty along the way. It wasn´t just the sunrise on the mountaintop that was inspiring. There were flowers along the steepest places in the path. There was the song of wild parrots in the distance, and the tapping of woodpeckers above. There were breathtaking vistas of mountains and valleys. There were remarkable sights, like giant ferns.
So often, when I´m forging ahead, putting one foot in front of the other, I forget to pause for a moment, and notice the beauty around me: the love of friends and family, the sight of some natural wonder, the joy of accomplishment. It is not just the arrival that matters, it is the way itself that matters.

5. It´s important to take care of yourself along the way. Climbing the mountain, arduous as it was, did include moments of rest. We stopped to eat, to catch our breath, and to sleep. Without these moments of refreshment and relaxation, as brief as they might have been, the climb would have been sheer drudgery.
God has blessed me, and the congregation I serve has been generous to provide this period of sabbatical rest for me. But I need to learn a rhythm of work and rest that allows me to take care of myself daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and not just for a longer time once every 7 years.

AMDG

Christ the Redeemer

Arms outstretched, looking over the city...looking over his people with benevolent care and love.

Another Mountaintop Experience

I´m not really much of one to sit on the beach and soak up the rays, so in some ways it´s a bit odd for me to have chosen to be here in Puerto Plata which is a huge resort destination. However, I´m not in one of the 'all inclusive' resorts, but a very small apartment hotel at the very edge of the downtown, along the malecón (sea walk), across the street from a quite small but very non-touristy beach. So I have been swimming each day, and enjoying the view and the breeze from the balcony as I read or just sit in quiet.

But since I´m not a beach person, I have wanted to explore a bit, and yesterday went to Monte Isabela, which is looms over the city at about 2600 feet. This time I did not walk to the top, nor did I take a mule -- there is a cable car. Standing on the platform, looking up the steep slopes and seeing the mountain top in the distance I thought, ¨I´m going up there?¨ And then when I saw the cable car appear in the distance I thought, ¨On THAT thing???¨ I have something of a fear of heights, and I kept looking at the size of the cable car (large) in comparison with the cable that was holding it up (slender) and having second thoughts...

I decided to put myself in the frame of mind that I was taking a bus ride up the mountain, and that the bottom of the car was not in mid-air, but instead resting solidly on terra firma. Amazing what the human mind can do. Sometimes denial is a good thing.

As it turns out, I was the only one in the cable car with the operator. Between taking about a bezillion (is there a word for this in Spanish?) photos, and saying over and over to myself, ¨it´s a bus, I´m on the ground...¨I managed to make it from the bottom of the mountain to the top without the haunting feeling of fear or panic that I usually sense in such situations.

One of the things that tour books don´t mention is that it´s not such a great idea to take the cable car in the afternoon, since it´s often overcast then. The whole point of taking a cable car ride to the top of the mountain is to see the view, which was obscured by a cloud. I did get some great pictures as I rode the cable car to the top before the car actually entered the cloud. I was feeling slightly disappointed about not being able to see from the mountaintop, until I realized that the mist-fog-cloud that blanketed the mountaintop actually had its own unique beauty.

At the top of the mountain there was a huge Dominican flag, plus a snack bar, restaurant, souvenir stands -- typical stuff you´d expect to find in a touristy area. There were also walkways winding through what was a sort of botanical garden. Supposedly there are over 200 varieties of flowering plants in the area. I didn´t count, but there were quite a few, plus giant ferns, palms of various descriptions, and other exotic plants. Strolling along the pathways, in the cool of the mist I had the impression of being in a rain forest -- and maybe it actually WAS a rain forest, with the occasional droplet falling from the treetops onto my shoulder. It was a stunning location, and a living reminder of the beauty, abundance, and majesty of God´s creation.

For me, the most impressive item at the top of the mountain was an enormous statue of Christ the Redeemer, standing with arms outstreched watching over the city. It is supposedly a replica of the statue that stands high above the city of Rio de Janeiro. What struck me about statue, which I understand is visible from the bottom of the mountain in clear weather, is that it could be seen only as I approached the top. At first, i had only a vague image of a dark figure in the mist. But the closer I got, the more clearly I could see the figure of Christ. But it was still misty enough that it was not possible to make out the full details of the Christ as long as that cloud hovered above the mountain.

I thought about the statue in the cloud as a metaphor for the spiritual life. Christ is there, present, arms outstretched, watching over his people in benevolent care and love. He is always, always there. But he is not always visible. Faith, says the epistle to the Hebrews, ¨is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.¨ The spiritual journey is something like that cable car ride -- it´s a bit scary, but at the same time exhilarating. It offers a perspective on the world that is not apparent from any other vantage point. The destination, the mountaintop goal, is Christ -- in this world and in this life obscured, not always visible. But he is there, always, always there. One bright cloudless day we will see him in his fullness, every detail.

Ubiquities 2

Cafeterias, Colmados, and Comedors -- There seems to be at least one of these on nearly every block. A colmado is a corner store and most of them are tiny -- some just about the size of a closet. They seem to sell more beer and water than anything else, but in some you can buy a tiny quantity of flour or oil or sugar or rice. Most appear not to be very clean, and seem to be neighborhood 'hangouts,' with people sitting in plastic chairs outside on the sidewalk, just chatting, maybe with a beer in hand. Cafeterias and comedors are sort of 'fast food' joints with very limited menus. The majority prepare large quantities of one particular combination platter daily usually chicken (sometimes beef or pork) and rice and beans. They are quite inexpensive, and the one time I ate at one, I though the food was pretty tasty. Sometimes a sandwich can be purchased there as well.

Bright colors -- Many of the older, traditional Carribean style Dominican houses are painted in bright colors: robin's egg blue, cantaloupe, hot pink, or canary yellow. It was explained to me (I didn't quite understand this) that the bright colors are more suitable or reflect the light or something of the tropical sun. At any rate, I know I've read newspaper articles in the Star-Ledger about how neighbors complain if a home on their street is painted a garish shade. Not so here.

Chickens. Yes, chickens -- live ones, that is. Both Fr Hipólito's have chickens. I asked if they were for eggs or meat and was told 'neither, we just like to hear their songs.' I've heard the crowing of roosters in the middle of a city just as often as I've heard the barking of dogs. Yesterday I was walking down a main avenue and a chicken jumped out in front of me from behind a dumpster. With a chick in tow. Another time there was a rooster simply wandering around an outdoor market. I think that some of them are rescued from a life of crime -- the cock fights that are popular in some areas of the country.

Gomerías. This is basically a tire repair business. With so many potholes, bumps, and divots in the roads, flat tires are pretty common. So are shops to repair them.

Saludos

That´s Spanish for ´greetings´and with this blog I send greetings to St. Peter´s Church in Freehold, New Jersey from the people of the Church of Cristo Salvador in Santiago, and Jesús Nazareno in San Francisco de Macoris, where I spend the weekend.

The Church of Jesús Nazareno is quite a bit different from Cristo Salvador. It is located in the downtown part of the city, and the congregation is much more middle class (NB: middle class in this country is certainly less affluent than the middle clas in the US). There is also a colegio -- sort of a parochial school attached to the church.

I arrived in San Francisco de Macoris on Saturday afternoon, in time for their youth group meeting. Their concept of ´youth´ is a bit different than ours in the US. They include young people from ages of 13 up to about age 30. There were about 25 or 30 total in the group, and it began with two youth (who appeared to be approximately college age) leading a Bible study on the parable of the prodigal son. There was prayer, and a couple of songs. Then Fr. Hipólito, son of the priest in Santiago and a priest himself, gave a power point presentation on the subject of ¨Why young people distance themselves from the Lord,¨ using a passage from Hosea as his topic. I was impressed with his teaching, which was solidly Biblical, well organized, and spiritualy challenging. Then the visitors were asked to introduce themselves. Before closing, there was more prayer, and another song.

A couple of differences between youth group here and youth group in the US that I noticed -- this was a very serious group. No entertainment, joking around, or ´fun stuff.´ And no food. I had brought a bottle of water with me which I quickly hid, feeling as if I were doing something verboten every time I tried to sneak a sip. The other thing that I noticed was the warmth and genuine Christian love demonstrated: every person who came into that parish hall greeted every other person personally -- sometimes with a handshake, but more often with an embrace or a kiss. ¨See how they love one another...¨ I thought. I´m not necessarily saying the Dominican way of Youth group is better than the US way, but I do notice there are distinct differences which are related to culture and tradition.

I spent Saturday night with Hipolito and his family. His wife is quite a fabulous cook, and I felt that she made a special effort to create some terrific dishes. Clearly she understands the meaning of Christian hospitality, and was demonstrating it. They have three children ranging in age from 7 to about 11 -- it has been so long since my own daughters were that age, that I´ve forgotten what it´s like to share a meal with children. I really enjoyed the time with them, and had the feeling that these are friends I had known for my whole life - and surely would know for the rest of my life.

Sunday morning I had the honor of preaching at Jesus Nazareno. I also assisted at the Eucharist. A wonderful, wonderful day.

Now things are winding down... with a few days of rest for reading, writing, and a bit of sightseing.

Success

Just to set the record straight -- not EVERY family in Cristo Salvador is living in poverty. (Nearly every family, but not all...)

Last week I had a dinner invitation to a very gracious and lovely family who are members of the congregation. To be sure, through hard work they have lifted themselves into the middle class (upper middle class). The parents both grew up in the barrio where the church is located, and the father was basically illiterate, and learned to read as an adult through a program at the Church. Despite that handicap, he had a good business sense and an excellent work ethic. He built up a business that (as I understand it) tansports produce from the fields to the local supermarkets. Or something like that. His two young adult sons also work with him.

Dinner was typical Dominican fare, which is to say that it was very flavorful, meat simmered slowly with an abundance of herbs and aromatics, served with rice, beans, and salad. Dessert was absolutely the sweetest thing I have ever eaten in my life. It tasted like pineapple jam straight from the jar, mixed with coconut.

It's encouraging to know that it is possible to lift oneself out of poverty in this country, even with what seems like the odds stacked against one. It offers hope not only to me, but to others in the church, especially since this particular family has been generous with their time and their money to support the ministry of Cristo Salvador.

Give a fish...

... to a person, and that person eats for a day. Teach that person to fish, and they eat for a lifetime.



There´s a proverb to that effect I remember hearing some time ago. And yesterday I saw an example of that philosophy in action.



Some St. Peter´s people may have heard of Food for the Poor or remember some years ago when we had a speaker from that organization give the sermon one morning. I was a visitor at their center in El Cercado yesterday, and saw the work that they are doing for the poor of this country, and of Haiti, which shares the island.



It was a very impressive operation, which included resources not only for food distribution, but, more importantly, agricultural self-sufficiency. There were about a half dozen hen houses each containing several hundred hens, plus ponds for a fish hatchery where tilapia are raised for consumption. There were also hothouses where tomato plants were growing, plus gardens containing yuca, plantain, and bananas, which are all staples here.



But the organization goes further than that: they have also built schools, medical clinics, and houses. In fact, they have constructed whole villages of simple 2 bedroom homes for local campesinos, replacing the jerry-built shacks and huts that most of the rural poor in this country live in. And they have projects to bring electricity and potable water to the new homes. All in all, a very impressive enterprise run not by US or European missionaries, but by locals, which helps to keep the cost down.



I won´t share the story of how I got from Santiago to El Cercado -- believe me, any attempt to use local transportation here has turned out to be an adventure. But I will share my impression that this organization seems to be doing a great deal of good for a great many people. Sometime in 2010 one of their speakers will be at St. Peter´s, and we will have the opportunity to hear another voice.