In the ferocious ebb and flow of the waves of Macqueripe Beach, Trinidad, the spirit of hospitality and welcome was encountered and experienced. Macqueripe Beach is located in Macqueripe Bay on the north-western end of the peninsula of the island of Trinidad at the end of Tucker Valley Road. It’s a small pocket beach frequented by lazy bathers and open-water swimmers.
Geared up with swimming flippers and goggles, my friend and I took a lazy swim, riding the waves out into the deep waters at the mouth of the bay. Gazing eastward, we spotted a huge rock, which we eventually discovered is named Boot Rock. While lazing around the mouth of the bay and reluctant to risk swimming to the rock, we encountered a group of swimmers belonging to the Macqueripe Early Morning Swimmers Association (MEMSA). An association of swimmers traverse this path each week, followed by the usual Trini lime.
As we caught up with them, the apparent leader greeted us, introduced himself, and enquired whether we were heading to Boot Rock and if we had flippers or not. Then he introduced us to the other swimmers and invited us to join and accompany them to Boot Rock. After reaching the boot-like shaped rock and touching it, we were caught by a heavy current pulling us violently through a narrow channel between Boot Rock and the rocky coastal mainland. The leader calmly guided us out of the current to ensure we were safe. As we learned later, the members of this group support each other by swimming as a team due to the unpredictability of the water current. Their informal motto is: No one is left behind!
Upon reflection, I thought the initiative and kind disposition of the leader were witnesses to Christian hospitality – the leader’s initiative to approach us, enquire about our destination, check to see that we had proper gear, integrate us immediately into the group, and ensure we were safe. From that experience, I no longer felt like a stranger but a member.
Beloved Reflections 