A Broken Hallelujah

Never in my life have I seen the sun so enormous. It seems we are close enough to the equator here to effect the very size of the sun. We sat and had dinner at a restaurant high up on the mountain and while the Spanish band played Hallelujah on guitar and congas, the sun sank into the sea. This was one of those moments that are hard to describe. The words of the song speak of a humble and a broken Hallelujah and in the moment that the super-sized sun touch the horizon, tears streamed down my face as I realized that it is from of our brokenness and humble honesty that things of life and value emerge. I think we all try to cover the sadness and disappointment we feel with focusing on the positives in life, but I find it is in admitting the reality of how we feel deep down inside and embracing it and allowing it to do its work in us that we are profoundly and forever changed.

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Sleeping Snakes, Naranjitos, and Waiting Until the Time is Ready

Naranjiots Its called a naranjito (pronounced nar an hee toe). It's a wild fruit that was growing in Anthony's back yard. You split it in half and squeeze the juice into a cup of cold water, strain and drink it. Everyone loves it and it has a lovely orange taste. We met Anthony--Roldolfo Anthony--on a walk out of town and up the hill that over looks all the islands. He called us into his yard after explaining to us about the very dangerous sleeping snakes that live in the area. He said they love to sleep all curled up and if you walk by too loud and wake them oooo, they will chase you and bite you and you will die. But if you carry a machete and use it to poke at the grass and the ground in front of you, the snakes will know the sound of the machete and will run away. He said they are very smart and he didn't know but he figured God made them that way. We vowed to always carry a machete when walking in the grass and then we followed him into his yard (minus a mach...

Mr. Flutter-by

Flutter-by, why are you drying your wings in the morning? Is it because the night is damp and the weight of the dew has you down? I know how you feel Mr. Flutter-by. I too need to dry the water from my wings. Perhaps if I stand very still you can teach me how to catch the first rays of the morning. Perhaps if I remain very quiet I can catch the small whisper that reminds me that I, like you, will fly high again if I will only alight on a safe place and open my heart and let the sun in.

Feeding Iguanas

black spiny-tailed iguana "Here lizard, lizard, lizard..." I called, but he didn't come. He flung himself into a crevice between the rocks. Flung is a good word for it. The Yucatan's black spiny-tailed iguanas are the fastest running lizards on earth. I left him a treat. Three round green pods. Maybe, when I was gone, he would venture back into the sunshine and find my peace offering. I hope to make friends with him, the lizard that is, or at least one of them. Every time I head down to the beach I startle a flock of them sunbathing in the grass or on the walk or on top of the cemented limestone walls. They love hibiscus flowers, which is not surprising. I love hibiscus tea (called Jamaica here and pronounced like hamica). They love strawberries too, but those are a little more difficult to come by. So the other day when I managed to get close to one, I offered him a round green pod from an orange flowered tree. I have no idea what the pod is called...

Where Wonder Meets Wander

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