The Sound of God Calling

If you have been following this on Face Book you know that I am in St. Martin. It is a place that I dearly love. Julie and I were happily knocking off visiting Caribbean Islands until we found here.

It is the only island with two different nationalities --- Dutch and French. The story is that a Dutchman and a Frenchman met on the top of Paradises, the mountain on top of the island and they made a wager. They both loaded up the other with wine. Whoever could walk the further without passing out could claim the island for their country. France controls two-thirds. The Netherlands controls one-third. Meaning the French can drink. And those from Holland can’t.

I do not know what this means about health care in France or socialism but the food is to die for and the wine is good and cheap. But if you are a hater of the French, everything is more expensive on this side than the Dutch side but it is also much more laid back. Laissez Faire! I love it!!

Anyway, I was in the grocery store yesterday, which is a trip. The campiest Christmas music that has ever been played was being played, but you can have a beer while grocery shopping in St. Martin so it is not that bad of an experience. The place was packed and the shelves were pretty much cleaned, but you know what? Every kid in there was singing Christmas carols to the tops of their lungs, helping their mothers, and how could I not help but not smile at them? The kids were all brown signifying what we will all look like one day, I guess. It made me thank God for Christmas.

Then on Christmas Eve I danced. With Julie. With people that I met the other day. And with people that I do not know. But we all touched and smiled and twirled and wished one another holiday greetings.

Then I sat with Carlos, my dear friend, and Paul a friend of Carlos who we are growing fond of, and we talked and laughed. Julie disappeared somewhere in here, after giving Carlos kisses, and then it was time to dance so I left them too and danced.

Then it was Christmas morning and I woke early. The kids and I exchanged I-love-you’s and then the rain came, and now we spent Christmas day listening to the rain in 83 degree weather. It is a great way to spend Christmas. Julie has her computer opened and is doing whatever she does and I have my computer opened doing this and if someone walked by in the rain they would think that we are playing battleship.

So I have bounced around the Inter-Net and told people whom I love that I love them on Christmas. And those campy Christmas carols are playing on the radio. And I am thinking about those kids singing to the tops of their lungs. And my wife who lives in Atlanta now and I miss a lot. And my kids whom I dearly love. And all of the friends who I took the time to say that I love you too today, I miss them too.

But you know what? The sound of the rain is the sound of God calling to see if everything is ok. I have to go now and answer. Everything is fine.