#3...Rainbows

Today I missed my island.

I missed her beauty and majesty. You have never known the color green until you look at her hill sides. The blue hue that makes up her waters can never be captured in a box of crayolas. The skies are always clearer when on her shores. I never knew God could place rocks so strategically till I met Saba.

My heart aches for her nature. As my feet hit the tile of the school hallways and the pavement of a busy parking lot, my mind imagines the dampness of the path in the rainforest. I long to feel the salt from her waters on my skin. I close my eyes and the clock ticking on the wall suddenly turns into the whispers of the evergreens at the governor's gazebo.

I miss the pace of island life. I look at the watch on my wrist...it's always set on Saba time. The days go by slower there and the hours seem to be filled with more meaning. I can still hear the bus driver from years ago bellow from the driver side window, "Slow down, teacher. No need to rush on Saba."

The sounds are missed by my ears. I long to hear the laughter echo off the walls of Sacred Heart. I wish to hear Saba Comprehensive students call me by name. The roar of a twin otter and the crashing of the waves ring in my ears as I count the days until my feet are planted firmly on sweet Saba once again.

I miss the Caribbean air in my lungs, the sun in my eyes, and the sea breeze in my hair.  I miss the bleating of goats and the rhythm of Socca music. I miss red roofs, white walls, and green shutters. I miss Ting and Johnny Cakes.

The people. This is what I miss most. The comfort of a cup of afternoon coffee with Ms. Lynne. Sitting with Trisha as our children play and explore. Having dinner with Jonathon and Rosa. Playing Twister with a group of little girls on a playground. Listening to the heart of a Caribbean teenage girl. Eating a feast at Jeff and Maricelly's. Taking a break in Principal Diane's office. Pulling Greco out of a garbage can for the millionth time.  Finding time to visit with Jessica between classes. Catching up with the ladies at Big Rock. Taking a hike with Peter. Waving and giving a quick toot of the horn as we turn a curve and pass by a friend or two on the road.

These days are hard. But these days will make the next reunion with my island that much sweeter.

I never knew I could feel so at home so far away from home. There are places, there are cultures that welcome strangers and make them their own. There are people out there that see past the stereotypes that the world has placed on us all. Outside our borders there are places that have a lifestyle much wiser than ours. God has created these little spots of oasis to wet our appetites a bit; giving us a small glimpse of heaven. He increases my hope and joy each time I stand on this Unspoiled Queen.

I described Saba once upon a time as a place where one will see rainbows daily.  The first day I ever saw a Saban rainbow I was teaching at the white board in the front of a class full of form two students. I turned to explain the material and outside the window was the brightest, most vivid rainbow I had ever seen. It glistened against the clear blue sky and stretched for what seemed like forever before it disappeared into the waters of the sea. One of my students had to bring me back to reality from the almost everyday Saban occurrence, which to me seemed more like a miracle, reminding me of God's unbreakable promises.

What if God allows rainbows to be that prominent everywhere...but some of us just don't slow down enough to notice them. We build tall buildings that obstruct our views. We pollute our air. We drive 75 in a 60 and 85 in a 70. Our calendars look like football play books. Our thumbs scroll on the little screens we have become addicted to, keeping our eyes adverted to the latest tweets and snaps. So many places to be...so many things on our plate...so much to do.

Everything about us, much less our eyes, is so adverted to our own agendas and plans. We get so accustomed to this way of life that we miss out and we forget. We don't see the rainbows.

I use to wonder when I would ever get to the point that I didn't have these days any more. Back years ago, I just assumed that one day I would get to the point that I wouldn't miss Saba so much. I haven't seen that time come yet and I don't think it ever will.  But I see purpose in these days now. God gives us rainbows as promises. He gives us places like Saba as reminders of hope. He puts a longing for places of peace in our hearts for a reason.  Life isn't about our lists of things to do and schedules we have to keep. It's about breathing in the life that God has given, the anticipation of something better to come, and sharing that with all those that He has you encounter.

I just know there will be afternoon coffee in heaven. There will be laughter and little children. There will be a a big table with good food to share. People will stop and talk on the road and take hikes in lush rainforests. The sounds will delight our ears and the sun will warm our cheeks like never before. And, rainbows...we will see lots of rainbows.