A Dialogue with Uncle Theron

Staff [Canje Connection Staff] Tell me something, Uncle Theron: Do you

suppose that Bible writers were thinking of Canje people when they wrote the book of

Psalms?

Uncle ‘T’ [Uncle Theron Caesar]: Why should anyone think so?

Staff: Well, don’t you remember the psalmist speaking, singing, and writing of the

beauty of brethren dwelling together in unity?

Uncle ‘T:’ I do. It’s the text of Psalm 133:1: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

for brothers to dwell together in unity!” [NASB ]. So you suggest that David could have

been thinking of Canje Connection when he said that? What was there about our

October 2024 Canje Connection meeting that would move David?

Staff. To me, Psalm 133 is an emotional outburst expressing spiritual joy and social

admiration. I acknowledge that the text is not primarily about going to church. It is

mainly about family togetherness. As The Living Bible states, “How wonderful it is, how

pleasant when brothers live in harmony!” But have you noticed the title?

Uncle ‘T’ What title? Do the Psalms have titles?

Staff: They do! The title of Psalm 133 includes the idea of going to church, even

if it isn’t the poem’s primary idea. The popular, long admired King James Version [or

translation] entitles every psalm from 120 to 134, “A Song of Degrees.” We now know

the Psalms didn’t graduate from anywhere! We know now what those “degrees” or

gradations are all about: they are psalms the ancient pilgrims sang as they ascended to

the nation’s worship center three times per year, something God specified even before

they entered the land of Canaan to become a unified people and established nation.

Given this understanding, modern versions now translate the titles as Songs “of

Ascents.” I know there are huge differences between Israel climbing a hill to the temple

in Jerusalem and Canje people driving or flying [even from Texas, California, the

Bahamas, or Guyana!] to a meeting in New York. But I still believe that there is a

replication of Israel’s emotions and spirituality in the joy and music of Canje Connection

at worship, the incredible sense of togetherness and belonging—belonging to each

other and, simultaneously, belonging to our God. In other words, I believe these facts

justify comparing with ancient Israel, for a common heritage and ancestry bound them

together; they were saints going up as a family to worship their God in His holy temple.

Uncle ‘T: So, may I ask you a question?

Staff: Sure, that’s one. Do you have another?

Uncle ‘T: I do: What are some of the things Canje Connection did during their

all-day worship celebration?

Staff: Correction: it wasn’t just an all-day event; it was a whole

weekend—Friday, Sabbath, Sunday—though the Sunday service didn’t materialize. But

talking about what did happen, a program rundown may do very little to communicate,

to transfer to a reader or listener now, the warmth, the thrill, the passion of the

experience: it was the people remembering their heritage—Canje family in the context

of fellowship in worship and food, and reminiscence, that made things so delightful and

made the whole program a feast for the entire soul. It was Guyanese country folk

getting together for mutual affirmation and inspiration in a faraway land that is nothing

like our original hinterland, water village home. Mind you, some celebrants may never

have resided in the Canje land and river of their nostalgia.

Uncle ‘T: Well, I can tell you how I feel about it. I think the linkages with each other

and our maroon village are vital, whether because of birth, genetic connection, or

consciousness kept alive through meetings like Canje Connection.

We should also acknowledge a strong storytelling tradition that has kept interest and identification alive and one that is at risk of fading if we do not continue to hold connection events like these. Moreover, something else that’s paramount, more prominent than all of us, is operating here. There’s a spiritual hunger among our people. A River Talk prayer line that involves this same population attracts attendance at 3:30 am and 4:30 am every day, close to 200, and has surpassed 200 attendees at times.

There is a need for God that our people want to be satisfied with, and we want to do it together. People have given their lives to Christ due to the prayer line, and we’ve had baptisms due to these Canje initiatives. In sum, connecting with Canje, our anchor and bond of union, improves everything, from home to school, to church, family to friends, to relatives, to “frelatives,”friends whose relationship is so close and dear that they virtually become relatives.

Staff: As for specific highlights, we would have to mention keynote addresses by

Floyd Johnson, a social worker from Texas, who spoke on the topic ‘The Power of

Praise’ on Friday evening; Leon Wilson, Sabbath at the divine hour, professor and

administrator at Morgan State University, who reminded us of ‘The Journey’; and Fenton

Park, ‘Finding Your Purpose,’ for Sabbath vespers. Also, you wouldn’t know it by looking

at the printed program, but Riley Caesar’s moderation of ‘River Value Memories’ was

one of the most satisfying segments of the entire weekend.

Maybe it was the gap between the meal and his item. A gap that gave our brains enough time for mental recovery after sending half our blood supply to the digestive processes. Maybe the quality of the food and fellowship inspired the afternoon conversation. Or, it’s perhaps, once again, the strength of Canje’s hold on us all.

One way or another, the variety of stories and the range of persons who shared them made that post-lunch program of sharing Canje memories one of the most meaningful and successful we enjoyed and attended.

And what say we of Canje music? Always an exclamation point! For those who dare to recollect a Canje program without underlining vindications of our legendary musical

capacity, vindications that came via the praise team, with Fenton Park at the keyboard,

and Myrna Gittens and company. In the praise team, they also came via what

everybody calls “special music.”

United to modern electronic ingenuity, Canje talent brought to New York live the music of women’s chorale, Genesis, straight from the church in Baracara, and the Riversiders Chorale Family – a primarily female singing group from Eden SDA church in New Amsterdam Guyana of mainly Bara Cara lineage, during the weekend’s proceedings. The women’s group singing was well complemented by in-person solos by two of our young women, Denise Hinds and Yolanda Caesar-Baptiste. For whatever reason, this year was women’s year for Canje Connection music. And it was certainly good enough to ask for more next time—more of Myrna leading praise, more of the soloist ladies, more of Genesis, more of Riversiders.

Or maybe our womenfolk have been reading the book of Hebrews, with its injunction to

“consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Heb 10:24, NASB).

Maybe all they wanted was to stimulate their male counterparts to put out their own

music.

So that next time, we can hear from a male chorale called Revelation, which will match

and remind us of the good music we got from the women’s chorale Genesis this time

around. It's just one more good thing to look forward to next Connection weekend. What

say you, Uncle T?

Uncle ‘T: We need to highlight the evidence of the storytelling tradition that was, and

we pray is still, a part of our community culture.

Staff: Certainly, our stories, the Mission story – Mommy the missionary, and the

Children’s story – Vannie’s Prayer were told by two ladies who related stories, involving

their mothers, of happenings that started or occurred either before or while they were

still babies. More meaningful anticipation for next Canje Connection weekend.