Introduction: Mission from the Deep Sea to Dry Land and Back

We came from Africa, some of our ancestors mixed themselves with what was left from the indigenous races and with the white elements that came from Europe, whose past was not pure either because of the Muslim invasions of Spain.  Our ancestors suffered the weight of the heat of the day until the black of night in the cane plantation.  Their lives were ones of sacrifice and pain… In Haiti, they rebelled for freedom before any white person could attempt it, even in the cold countries in the south, that were predominantly European.

For centuries, we in the Caribbean, have resisted a vile colonialism that has forced us into submission. By means of indoctrination, we have accepted our captivity as a matter of destiny. Several colonial powers have sucked our blood and sweat like thirsty leeches. The Colossus from the North has influenced our countries in an unhealthy way, bringing a gospel of total submission. The unworthy of this is that, in their striving to save us; they have made us believe that their country is prosperous because it’s a Christian country. Economic imperialism, with its multinational investments, its consumerist propaganda, and its cultural influence, distorts the image of our peoples. To our poor countries, they make them believe that without the support of the dominant countries, nobody can survive. That is why they maintain agencies to protect their national security while exploiting our lives. That is why they smash every local initiative and then justify themselves saying that poor countries are not energetic enough to develop themselves by their own effort. It is a disgrace to the suffering of the victims.

Religious life has been transplanted from the outside. Missionaries taught that our traditions were sinful vices and that our parents were leaving vices behind, but they didn´t give the people any substitute. That is how they were finding new forms of consolation for their miserable lives… the racial mix, the stormy weather; the oppressive life and the uncompromising religions have been factors that have determined the formation of the peoples in the Caribbean.   (Rivera, 1984, 106-107)

Conclusion: A Question to Our Shadows and their Answer

Questions for Reflection

1. Where have you experienced God in your life this past week or month? What testimoniowould you like to lift up at this moment in your life?
2. Of the metaphors for the Caribbean discussed today, which challenges your vision of the Caribbean the most?
3. What might be the “dry land” in our community? Where do we feel threatened by the “deep sea”?
4. Can you think of a time in your life where you felt as though you were struggling in the sea? What feelings do you associate with that experience?
5. In what other ways might the Caribbean be considered more a “paradox” than “paradise”?

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