The Duplicity of Life
by Patrique Harris, Ministry Director
This past week has been a whirlwind, marked by joy and celebration, yet also mixed with sorrow and concern. Such is the duplicity of life.
Last Saturday, I turned thirty! To mark the milestone, I set out on a 30,000-step walk through some of my favorite parts of Kansas City and its surroundings. Though the forecast warned of a downpour, the day turned out beautifully! It was cool, with a faint drizzle, but not enough rain to dampen my spirits.
Throughout the day, friends (big ones and a few littles) joined different legs of the journey, even a few I hadn’t seen in a while. We caught up on life, shared memories, and of course, I took tons of photos! I began at 10 am, circling Wyandotte High School. The school’s architecture was as majestic as ever, though we had to dodge a few KCK strays while admiring it! From there, we did a few laps around nearby Waterway Park, then paused for a delicious lunch at Las Palmas on Minnesota Ave. I love this restaurant; the menu is filled with many delicious Mexican and Central American dishes.
The second half of our day took us north to Parkville. We meandered through a quiet Parkville Nature Sanctuary and then a buzzing English Landing Park. After an afternoon pick-me-up at Parkville Coffee, we headed to our final stop: Loose Park. By this time, it was around 6 pm, my knees were starting to ache, and fatigue was setting in. As the sky darkened, my watch buzzed, 30,000 steps complete! What a moment of gratitude! What made it even more special was that it was a shared achievement. My friend Mikya walked every step beside me, a testament to her commitment to our friendship and, presumably, her fitness, haha! Jokes aside, it simply wouldn’t have been the same without her and all the other friends who joined along the way.
I have to give a special shoutout to my dad, who, in the midst of hurricane preparation and torrential rains, spent the day pacing through our home in Jamaica. He made 30,000 steps too!
But even as I basked in this personal milestone, dark clouds loomed, literally. A record-breaking storm was barreling straight toward my island home, Jamaica. Local and international media did not mince words about the catastrophic impact this system could have. And that it did. Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane, the most powerful ever recorded in Jamaica’s history. Relentless rain and 185 mph winds tore violently through western parishes, while outer bands pounded the rest of the island.
Watching from afar was agonizing. You sit glued to the news, refreshing for updates, clinging to every message from loved ones, and dreading the moment communication stops. I thank God that my family, living on the eastern side of the island, is safe and that my childhood home still stands. But that is not the case for so many. Many people have not been able to contact family; many homes have been destroyed, and many are displaced.
While I’m deeply relieved for my family’s safety (and endlessly grateful to the friends who checked in), my heart aches for those enduring unimaginable loss. I can almost hear the whistling gusts ripping roofs away, raging waters flooding homes and streets, and the cries of fear. Heart-wrenching.
I lift my island to You, Father. Comfort and restore, Jamaica, Land We Love.
Jamaica, Land We Love - The Jamaican National Anthem
Eternal Father bless our land,
Guard us with Thy Mighty Hand,
Keep us free from evil powers,
Be our light through countless hours.
To our Leaders, Great Defender,
Grant true wisdom from above.
Justice, Truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, Land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love.
Teach us true respect for all,
Stir response to duty’s call,
Strengthen us the weak to cherish,
Give us vision lest we perish.
Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above.
Justice, Truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love.
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