Nostalgic in Panama is just my roundabout way of saying I´m Homesick..waaahhh wanna go home!
Ok, so I´m not really putting down any cow-bawling or any such thing. It is really strange that I feel this way now, after all this time in Panama. So it caused me to pause and reflect as I´m doing now. This is how I see it..
Each year after attending General Assembly I feel a little bit sad about parting from my friends and colleagues after spending some time with them. Though the time is short and much time is spent stomping all over ideas, and issues on the floor and in forums it is still good to know that we are there together seeing each other rather than just saying hello via telephone or email. Nonetheless, we will still be in Jamaica and we´ll catch again up sooner or later.
This time, I attended General Assembly and then returned home. I spent the following day rushing from one last minute appointment to the next. Then the day after that I left for Panama. Very few goodbyes were said, and I was not ready to leave Jamaica. Hence, I believe, my homesickness.
So like Peter to Jesus on the Mount of the Transfiguration, my spirit was saying to me while I was in Jamaica…Marvs this great, just build three tabernacles here. Build one for me, one for you and one for the I. Then we can just stay here. (hearing voices too??? Hmmm that sounds serious!!)
Well you know Peter´s serious “Cross Avoidance” issues. Although to be fair, I don´t think that is what I am doing because I do love Panama. So I´m cutting me some slack here…I deserve a good bout of homesickness, considering I never felt this way even after I was on my own after August last year.
Any psychology majors in here want to tell me about my delayed nostalgia in Panama?
Nostalgic Marvia
I dont think its anything that needs to be assesed by a psychologist. its jus that you are from Linstead and we understnad the value of home and our origins and im sure everytime u r on the island especially in Linstead, the warmth of the reception you get makes you feel like yu dont want to leave. But Linstead prepared you for grater things that why you can be doing the task the Lord has given you now.
D,
Thanks for your assurance that I’m not quite ‘crack’ yet!!
You are right about missing Linstead. It is truly a special place to grow up and be spiritually nurtured.
Linstead Baptist Church in particular, then St. Catherine Baptist Association Youth Arm (SACABAYA), JBU Youth Department (was JBU Youth Affairs in those early days) and Linstead Youth For Christ from the mid-80′s onward have been my training ground. The impact of my spiritual formation by these three can never be adequately expressed. You have now sent me on a trip down memory lane so I’ll do this in a separate post on two things I wish to discuss – Church related support and non-church support.
Back to the nostalgia…
Even while I was in the pastorate in Trelawny, Jamaica I would sometimes miss the congregational life at Linstead. It is both unique and special. Maybe it was more a hankering after the ‘glory days’. However, I really missed the way church was central to our lives. I would often head out to the town of Linstead on a particular mission, and run into a friend who is heading ‘down church’ and next thing I know I am at church and we are sitting on the step outside chatting. Several persons would also be going about their business, see us and join us to chat as well. It was “cool” to pass by and hang out on the church grounds.
From pre-teen I would spend a lot of time at the church anyway. There was always something happening – for me it was usually “practice”. Lawks I never see a set a people to practice like we at Linstead!! Tell “Teach” you all here me grumbling on this Blog. I’m too far away for her to ‘pinch’ me anyway!! So where was I yes…
We could practice…we practice for every occasion and there was an occasion every month or so. So there was Junior choir, then I graduated to Youth Choir (nope the adult choir was for the ‘old people’ hahahahha…Lord I can’t come home anytime soon!!). There was Chorale Speaking, Recitations, plays. Later on, we added the full Drama group and Dance group practices. Of course you know who in everything. So my week looked like this through High school, College and later at work.
Monday – Counsellor, New Life Class
Tuesday – Practice or something
Wednesday – Practice then Bible Study
Thursday – Choir Practice or Council Meeting or something
Friday – Youth Fellowship or Youth weekend retreat
Saturday – Pre-AM Wash & Clean
AM SACABAYA meeting or United Church Council Meeting, or Workshop or something
PM Youth For Christ ( Meeting, Road Show or something)
Sunday – AM Morning Worship then Teach Sunday School
Aft – Iron clothes for school or work
PM – Night Service or Members Meeting or practice or Open Air meeting or ?? Yes you got it or something
Looking back now I am wondering when did I find time to do all that? No wonder my mother once remarked, ” you know you take my house like a hotel. You realize you only eat and sleep here!” Good thing though, she always knew where I was.
Now that I’ve started remembering there is just too much to tell now. More next time..
Marvia
I can assure you that the tradition is being continued today. My mother always ask, and my father says I spend more time at church than the pastor. (LOL). LBC has that way to hold people as there is always something happening there.Well until Bro. Ossie get fed up and run wi out, or close the gate on us.