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Merline and I do live, witnessing the violence of grinding poverty: hungry people on one’s path so often, children living on the streets, people who are seriously ill but have no money for treatment or pain relievers. The violence that is making the news right now stems from the grinding violence of poverty, which usually doesn’t make the news.

And, in the midst of it all, our lives are full with friends and rich moments. The construction of Kent and Shelly’s house was recently completed. Our neighbor Rosias, oversaw the construction of a simple, well-built house on Merline’s and my land. We decided it was a moment to celebrate. And what fun we had. Fried plantain covered with picklees (spicy coleslaw), chicken, rice and beans, cake, wine, rhum punch, soda and beer…not to mention chocolate cake. We sang and danced and pretended to be possessed by ‘lwa’ spirits, and then to be converted and possessed by the holy spirit. The jokes and laughter flowed as freely as the big bottle of red wine.

There is a time to be sad. There is a time to be joyful.