Thursday August 27, 2020
Reggie Baird
Persevere
I remember growing up in Grenada enjoying the fresh food warm sunshine and perfect beaches. Happily living day by day with just the basic natural necessities that island life offers. Up by 06:00 am to care for my rabbits, chickens, a parrot and my dog. After finishing my morning chores my Mom would usually have me run to the store to buy something for dinner. Going to the store was always a challenge when there’s no shopping list and I’m trying to memorize the quantity and quality of the different items to purchase. Good luck with getting it right by the time you get to the store. Let’s see it’s now my turn after standing in line for a while one loaf of bread, ½lb butter, Was it ½lb of sugar and 1lb of rice or the other way around? Upon returning from the store I’d eat a quick breakfast mostly tea and toast and get ready for school. You’ve heard of walking up hill both ways to and from school, it’s no joke when your school is located several miles away in the valley of a mountain. As if that was not grueling enough some days we’d walk back home for lunch. One could hardly wait for Friday to enjoy the weekend’s rest. Sundays was always our favorite day to be thankful the food we ate, for the opportunity to worship with friends and above all grateful to live on a quiet peaceful tropical island. I’m alive today but for the grace of God. As I recall the close calls I’ve experienced that could’ve been fatal, there’s no question that Jesus had plans for sustaining my life. I was told that as a toddler I fell from our 2nd story kitchen window. Was rescued from drowning once by my best friend. Being attacked tear gassed and trapped in a hot Union House attic (A Remarkable Rise from Grenada’s Bloody Monday. The Portsmouth Herald) with a bed of nails penetrating the ceiling following a demonstration for Peace and Justice. Without adequate room to stand or sit upright only faith helped me survive and make it home that day with minor wounds.
Growing up poor in a third world country is the perfect recipe for building faith, hope, perseverance and a strong relationship with God. The focus is never money but happiness. I recall many difficult situations in my life but somehow God always provided, he never once failed to provide in my time of need. We were blessed to have sufficient land for a large garden and a few mango trees in our yard. Depending on the time of year we’d have papaya, plums, guava, bananas to name a few. The availability of tasty fresh fruit throughout the year provided a reliable source of food. The words “God will provide” and “God willing” are often used in the Caribbean by people of faith. On the islands we lived a simple God-fearing happy life focused on simplicity. Tourist are often surprised by the stress-free traditions we maintain, the don’t worry be happy lifestyle. To live in the Caribbean, you must have faith in everything. While traveling on the island just ask any of the locals what time’s the next bus to the famous Grand Anse beach? The answer there’s no schedule just wait one will show up.
When I first arrived in the US. living in Brooklyn NY. Faith in God guided me daily as I tried to navigate big city life for the first time. With the memories of island life everything in NY was so different so big and sometimes troublingly wasteful. Funny how when you’ve lived in another country you often find yourself comparing your new way of life with the past. We’re so blessed to live in a country of over 330 million people and still have such abundance of food and resources. As Father Rob. often says “There’s enough”.
Throughout my thirty-three-year Coast Guard career faith and perseverance helped sustain my life through countless memorable Search & Rescue missions. The most dangerous of which was responding a fishing boat and crew in distress during the Perfect Storm. Thirty-foot seas tossed our 270-foot cutter around like a cork in a bathtub. I’ll never for as long as I live during a rescue off Sandy Hook NJ. after locating the distressed fishing vessel and returning her safely to shore the following day, one crew member said to me when he saw the stern light of our cutter disappear under the waves at night he was standing by with an ax ready to cut the tow line. I found nothing more rewarding that rescuing 850 migrants of the coast of Haiti and Cuba. In numerous small boats with standing room only they were fleeting their native lands to seek a better life in America. They carried almost no personal possessions but all shared a strong faith connection. After the first night onboard our cutter at 04:00 am we were all awaken by a thunderous sound of voices singing praises to God. Imagine having to cook for an additional 850 guest three meals a day in addition to our crew of over 100. On the fourth day of serving our guest their evening meals which consisted primarily of beans and rice, the cook had a large baking tray of beef stew and thought it would be a great idea to offer it to our guest. Knowing that it was not sufficient to feed everyone I thought we’d have a riot for the one tray of beef I prepared my escape plan just in case. To everyone’s amazement after serving the beef they returned to their seats and shared so everyone had a little beef that night.
St John’s church reminds me of my church family growing up in Grenada. My wife and I are blessed to be part of a dedicated faith-based community focused on the mission of service to those in need. Today it’s difficult to have any conversation which does not involve how the present state of events are affecting each of us personally. This year we’re being tested daily as never before with COVID-19. We can only pray for the thousands of lives loss and families destroyed by this virus. Black men are being murdered on the street by Law enforcement officers. Many of our favorite small businesses are closed for good. Which of us ever imagined the day when the church would be forced to close her doors indefinitely? And just when we thought the worst was behind us, now the threat to our Postal Service System and wondering if it would even be safe to vote this year are new questions to ponder. As a Grenadian American I’m tired of being extra cautious while in public from those who shamelessly carry the mantle of hate. They stand ready with the vicious venomous anger triggered to verbally or physically attack anyone of a different race, color or religion? It’s so much easier to carry a smile. Covered with mask I miss seeing the smiles of friendly faces in public today but I’ve noticed that many people take a little extra time to be polite and say a simple hello. With preservice this time too will pass, hopefully we can all reflect on something positive we did to enhance the life of others. God Bless.