By OSWALD T. BROWN
(EDITOR’S NOTE: My very good friend Christine Fields has been named ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR by the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama. When I saw the announcement on Facebook, I absolutely had to share it with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and, of course, The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
In thanking the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama, Christine posted this on Facebook: “I would first like to thank God for blessing me each and every day, my husband Martin van der Linde (my rock) my family (my inspiration)and my inner circle of supportive friends (You all know who you are) and The President of The Rotary Club of Grand Bahama 2022-2023 Donovan Elreno Bowe (who chose me) and the wonderful members for this award~~~ Am humbled and grateful~~ Thank you.”
When I saw Christine’s thank you message, I immediately searched through my files for a “powerful message” she posted on Facebook in September of 2022 that I ran I BAHAMAS CHRONICLE on October 1, 2022,as a Guest Commentary, which underscores why she is the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama’s 2022-2023 R0TARIAN OF THE YEAR. 🌹
GUEST COMMENTARY: BY CHRISTINE FIELDS
(EDITOR’S NOTE: My very good friend Christine Fields posted this powerful message on Facebook that I absolutely had to share with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE.)
FREEPORT, Bahamas – Oct. 1, 2022 — There were times I’d put $10 worth of gas in my tank and other times $50. I’ve had $5 to just feed myself and I’ve also had $200 to go out to eat. I’ve had a house full of food and I didn’t have any. I’ve been in stores cashing out with no worries and I’ve also had to add it up and put things back on the shelf. I’ve paid my bills in full and I’ve had to pay them late too. I’ve given money and I too have had to ask for it.
We all have highs and lows in life; some certainly more than others, but we are all just trying to make it.
No one is better than anyone else, and my heart is sad for those people who think that they are. No matter how big your house is, how new your car is, or how much money sits in your bank account — we all bleed red and will eventually fade from this earth. Death has no discrimination, and neither should your life. Be kind to others. We are all here to serve. Stop the power tripping. Your oversized ego won’t get you anywhere.
Be humble and keep faith going. Very few will actually read this far, but if you’re genuine I challenge you to copy. 💜✝️
EDITOR’S NOTE: Christine’s father, the late McDonald Fields, was one of Trinidadians who came to The Bahamas to join the Royal Bahamas Police Force in the 1960s and retired as Chief Superintendent of Police. More importantly, he had a tremendous influence in turning my life around and preventing me from committing some criminal acts that would possibly have landed me in jail when I was a Black Power advocate who was committed to eliminating racism in The Bahamas “by any means necessary.”
McDonald Fields was a devout Roman Catholic and so am I. We became very close friends when we both attended Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church when I lived in Freeport, and I often thanked him for his advice during my years as a Black Power Advocate. It was at Mary Star of the Sea that I met Christine for the first time while exchanging the “greeting of peace” during Mass. She had been living in Europe, where she had moved with her husband, and on more than one occasion I reminded her of how instrumental her father was in my life.
Christine is currently actively involved in the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama.
