Songs and Smiles!

Bathing our cabin before dawn was a vast cloud of morning dew resting gently upon our mountain ridge. Walking through the small dancing beads of mist to the chapel for morning prayer, I looked to the east and was stunned! Shining faintly through, outlining the silhouettes of trees jaggedly peaking from the crest of the mountain across us, was our glorious star awaking life in Jamaica. A chorus of birds singing excitedly, resounding across the fading ridges beyond us to the west, complimented the beautiful trees swaying, and it seemed as if I had just intruded upon their own morning praises.

Eleven years ago, the founder of Mustard Seed Communities, Msgr. Gregory, was winding up the narrow and forested roads with the resident priest here, Fr. Gavin Augustine, until he came to this ridge and exclaimed spontaneously, “This is the spot!” We are blessed to work and encounter those at “this spot” and what has now become “Jacob’s Ladder.” Just today we gathered for the blessing of the chicken coop we funded earlier this year! Father Ivany said a prayer and sprinkled holy water all around the new structure.

In the afternoon, some of us continued to scrape and mix concrete, while others matched the morning birds in singing, laughing, and praising with the residents. I was in the latter group. As we were singing, a resident named Roja gestured to me to sit down across from him. I came over and he reached out his hand. Placing my hand in his I expected him to want to talk, but he looked away. I too was silent. He just wanted me to be with him. A story came to mind of Saint John Vianney, who once saw a man praying before Our Lord, hidden in the tabernacle. Saint Vianney asked the man what he does when he prays. The man responded, “I look at God and God looks at me.” That is enough. Here before me I got to experience Christ in Roja. More precious than the sun’s beautiful, life-giving rays, was here before me Christ’s shining splendor, veiled by a cheerful smile.