A look in their eye

Perhaps you've met a few of these people in your lifetime. One of them was the doctor who performed Jacob's bris. He was wrinkled, grey-haired and bent over. But he had steel blue eyes that focused in on Mary and me as he explained the procedure, how we care for Jake post-procedure and why this is such an important mitzvah. He spoke as if he knew exactly why he was placed on earth and the joy he received in performing this task. It was like I was directly linked to God via this centered and purposeful man.


While in Troncones, I met another. The gardener in the beautiful property we stayed at was a man named Herardo. This man would greet us every day with the largest toothy grin you've ever seen. He was sweeping, cutting dead palm fronds off trees, watering.... always smiling. He always had a suggestion for a place for comida ("mas barato!") or would talk about how "tranquilo" it was to live in Troncones. One morning Jake and Jay wanted to open up a coconut. We asked Gabby, the maid, for a suggestion on how to get one and cut it. In no time, Herardo was there with a ladder and a machete, pointing out to us which tree bore the sweetest fruit. Up he went and down came 3 coconuts. He climbed back down and "whack!" the coconut was opened and milk sprayed all over Herardo. He had such joy in his face as he poured the milk into a jug and scooped out the fleshy meat as Jason and Mary watched on. (Can you say Pina Colada?!!!?)


The day we left, we came outside to find our van washed from the mud, salt and sand from the week. Herardo stood there proud to have served and said, "Your car was pretty dirty. I thought I'd clean it off for your trip."

In our conversations, he had the glimmer in his eye. The love for his chosen place in life. The comfort in knowing he was doing what he was supposed to do. And that through his pruning and watering and cutting and clearing, he was bringing joy to others that they would not soon forget.

(Double click images to make them bigger....)