Saint Lucia is a Caribbean island situated between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. When it’s cold and dank in England in February (‘February’s ice and sleet freeze the toes right off your feet’, according to Flanders and Swann!), a Caribbean paradise like Saint Lucia seems an idyllic escape, well worth fantasising over:
The island’s ownership was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814 and English is the official language there. However, the original name given by the ancient Amerindian settlers was ‘Louanalao’ or ‘Iouanalao’ which is translated as ‘Island of the iguanas’. Igor’s home!
The first settlers from South America must have indeed thought Saint Lucia was a paradise island: green, fertile, uninhabited. Over the years, Europeans discovered this Caribbean paradise and the French influence is still seen through the place names, food and the Creole dialect that is still spoken.
So, as we endure winter in England, Igor reminds us of warmer climes and sandy beaches…!
And Paul reminds us, perhaps most importantly, that we have a glorious future awaiting us: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Rom 8:19) John also talks about this: “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”(1 John 3:2)
“There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to You always.” (Jeremy Camp, ‘There Will Be A Day’)