God is all things
this is a 2016 excerpt from a trip I took to Colombia where God was found in cocaine, friendship and experience
Verve’s! Esta bien?” says my college roommate Juan Nino “I can’t believe the Verve’s is in Colombia”, with a huge smile on his face. “I know man it has been way too long.” I embrace him as brothers do when they haven’t seen each other for much too long.
I have come to Cartagena to see an old friend, celebrate a quarter century of living, and see a new place. A place that Nin’s and I have talked about him showing me since our arrival at Liberty in 2008.
Along with the youngest Nino male- Juan Hosea, we make our way from the airport to the old city in Cartagena, to celebrate their cousin’s wedding.
Indefinable beauty and history is what I see as we drive along the coastline of the Caribbean. I see the old city out of my periphery, which is entirely covered and protected by a 15 ft military wall called “Las Muralles”, built in the 16th century, after attacks lead by Frances Drake, and is a stark reminder of the oppression of colonization.
Entering into the old city we are greeted by monasteries, plazas, and mansions with their overhanging balconies and shady patios. And as we arrive at our place of rest, Casa Pombo, a stunning fifteen-room apartment hotel built for and by the 16th century Spanish settlers, I am engrossed in infatuation for my Colombian brother.
Greeted with love resembling a lost son coming from a long journey I am kissed by Mama Nino, “Oh Alex, we are so glad you are here”. My heart is filled with love so familiar but yet so unfamiliar.
Nin’s has recently moved back to Colombia to pursue his childhood dream of playing first division football. Currently on trial with a team in Neiva, I see a peace and certainty in him never seen before in our four years at Liberty together.
With four hours to kill before the wedding events start, I decide to go for a run as the lactic acid has built up in my legs from eleven hours of traveling. Jose asks to join me as he is in the end of preseason for his collegiate soccer team and wants to get a little maintenance run in.
Shirts off and the 95 degree heat beating down on our determined bodies, we run along the top of Las Murallas at every possible chance we get with points of which the wall’s width closes to less than two feet and one miss-step means a fifteen ft fall to the concrete below. We run with our head up and trust the rhythm of our feet will carry us to safety.
Finishing the last part of our run, Jose talks to me about his recent completed internship with a large project management and development firm as he is coming closer to figuring out what he sees as truth and falsity in his world. Jose speaks as someone who is ten years his senior, phrasing personal opinion with the correct pre-text, “I think”, to not alienate anyone when he talks. My envy doesn’t show but my time spent with Jose brings a lesson in humility.
Ten
Having only had a week to ask his cousin if his gringo friend could also come to the wedding. Nins informs me, “So Al you’re invited to the ceremony, cocktail hr and to the reception after dinner has been served, but because you came with such short notice, there are no extra seat placements for dinner.” No worries Nins, I will just grab some food and beers and meet you guys for dinner.”
Having finished cocktail hour I grab two Aguilas, putting one in my back pocket. Looking for somewhere to eat. I walk a couple of blocks and stumble upon a quant little restaurant named Nuova Enoteca and ask the host if they serve things to go. I order a small thin crust pizza with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and chilli lemon octopus and ask the host, “It is ok if I drink my beer inside?” “No problem sir, and your food should be ready shortly.”
Exciting the restaurant I am greeted by a smiling, balding, roundish Colombian who calls himself Sammi, “How long do you stay in Cartagena?” “Only a couple of days” I respond. “You should not drink that beer while you walk but would you like to come have a beer at my bar?” “Absolutely” I respond. Walking towards his bar, Sammi asks why I am in Cartagena, and if I am looking for any sort of fun he is the right person to be asking. “Anything you need, I can get. If it is girls, ganja, or powder, all is very easy.” Casually mentioning, “I am always down for a taste.” He pulls out his phone and calls someone, and as quickly as the Spanish leaves his mouth we are met by an over fifty, platinum bleached, tanned bodied Colombian wearing a purple Ed Hardy shirt. “I am Federico and my English is no good.” “No problem”, as we walk on. Now in front of me the two of them begin talking looking back at me every fifteen seconds or so.
Entering into the bar Sammi tells the female bartender to bring three Aguilas to the back room. The bar as far as I can see is comprised of about twenty tables and a long wooden bar with twelve stools. Towards the back of the bar there is a closed off room made of aluminum extrusion and black tinted Plexiglas where Federico and Sammi are walking towards. Entering into room, there is a single unit air conditioner that is on full blast.
Taking a seat at the farthest table to the left, Federico pulls out his smart phone and begins to scroll through half-a dozen naked Colombian woman who have their fingers in their mouths or are rubbing their clit. “If you want any, just say yes” says Sammi. Federico tells Sammi to ask me if I want a taste. “Yea, absolutely” I say. To which they stand up and beckon me to fellow them into an office that is through a door at the back of the tinted Plexiglas room. Handing me a balled up piece of tinfoil, he tells me, “Bathroom---- there, so you can try.”
Taking the eight ball into the bathroom, my first thoughts in the flood are, “Why and how have I put myself in this situation? and Should I just pretend to take a bump?” I look at myself in the mirror and take a deep breath. Stopping only to see my reflection, I am pleased with what I see and I decide to take a nice bump. Exiting the bathroom, Federico and Sammi are smiling in unison and as if we were in a movie Sammi announces, “Colombia has the best quality.”
He wraps he right arm around my shoulders and in a more forceful tone says, “Now my friend you go to your hotel or there is an ATM around the corner and get 1,000,000 pesos.” Doing my best quick conversion, this is more than half of my travel money. I go to hand the tin foil to Sammi in hope to walk away from the situations but quickly he says, ‘What do you give this to me for? It is yours, we trust that you will bring back the money.” Now lacking confidence, “Ok, that works for me.”
Walking back to Casa Pombo, my heart is racing. The coke has reached my bloodstream and coupled with my natural adrenalin I begin to think a thousand thoughts a min and looking back over my shoulder I realize that the gentleman who was sitting next to us in the tinted back room is following me at a twenty five meter distance. Knowing that I don’t have the money to spend, I rack my brain for a out of this situation when You enter my space and say, “Be still and do not worry.” As if a light switch was flipped, my internal unconscious being merges with my conscious mind and I feel a sense of calm. Reaching my room I grab 300,000 pesos from the dresser drawer and take everything else out of my pockets. Nins enters the room and seeing distress on my face asks, “Is everything ok buddy?” “I got myself into kind of a sticky situation but I am alright, I will tell you all about it when I get back.”
Walking back to Sammi, a tall skinny Colombian working as a host at a nearby bar, shouts out, “Why do you buy from them? We give you a much better deal.” I am an easy target and my naivety has lead to my movements being known by all.
Sammi is waiting for me on the steps of the bar and say, “I am glad to see you my friend.” In a humble directness I respond, “I spoke much too largely of myself and have brought you your package back, along with 300,000 pesos for your time. I apologize for wasting your time.” Looking half-astonished, Sammi shakes my hand, “Are you sure you do not want a little of the package? “No thank you”, I say. “Ok, but remember you have my number if there is anything you need for your stay in Cartagena.”
The shift between light and dark has happened so fast and by not paying attention I let balance shift to an unhealthy place.
Eleven
Four days into my stay now in Neiva, as we are getting ready for to go to bed, Nins says to me, “Al I know this is random, but I have been wanting to ask you since you got to Colombia , Where are you at with God?, I ask because ever since we left Liberty, he looks and feels so different to me.” He asks with such sincerity. The peace in his inner self has extends itself into my space and feel his energy spill over to me. “That is a good question Nins, the thing that I have been grappling with as of late is how does his existence play out in our every day life. My brother-in-law said something to me last Christmas that I really agree with. We look at God as this vertical entity, something that is above us and is something we feel we have to meet at an appointed time. But really he is in everything, all around us and through everything. For me Nins I am trying to figure out how to experience him in everything.”
Twelve
Audibly saying our deepest fears and anxieties to another person releases us from the imprisonment we feel from that thought or idea. By Nins asking a simple question I can think about You and reflect honestly about where we are.
The next day we go to the natural hot springs in Neiva and talk until the water has drained and the staff asks us to leave. I run through Campeolegre, a small town where Nins Aunt & Uncle live and pass school children, cows, horses, a stunning flower shop, past the town cathedral and the market where people are buying and selling all the while think this is beauty. We hire a small boat normally used to passage people back and forth across the mighty Magdalena, to give us a real tour of the river. We go dancing and drinking as children filled with joy and laughter. I take Nins canoeing for the first time at the la Represa de Betania, basking in the splendor of the surrounding mountains and feel so much light it cant be contained.
I FaceTime Jordan, one of my oldest friends, who is in Chile teaching abroad and tell her of life and of Jasmine and in our conversation realize that our creator is reflected to me through those I love and every person I come into contact with. The joy and love I have felt deep in my soul is a mirrored reflection of the divine.
I thought I understood what You looked like but You have revealed to me that each of us hold a small cup of your infinite ocean.
I remember yesterday drying off by the river when we were approached by a man whom had no arms but was beaming from ear to ear with a light I could not comprehend and while smiling at me with a gaze that would not leave my face, he spoke to me in Spanish, “ Greetings of love and you are welcome here.” The warmth radiating off of him, he ties a handmade bracelet around my wrist with his teeth and wishes me blessings from above.
I have found You again in the deep hidden remembrance of my creation,“ from the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils the breathe of life,” You created me.
Words: A.D. Verville