January 6: Queen for a Day

Sometimes the Magi from the North bring allergy medicine, anti-inflammatory pills, and pain killers.

By Magdalena I. García

Today in the afternoon I delivered a box of over-the-counter medicine to a local social service agency. It was not for their clients, although I’m sure the homeless men and women who frequent this facility would benefit from such a gift. The medicine was collected by Ravenswood—the church I pastor—as part of their Three Kings Day celebration last Sunday. And it will be carried to Cuba—along with monetary mission gifts for sister churches—by a delegation from the Presbytery of Chicago travelling to the island next week.

I remember growing up as a child in Cuba. I remember the excitement of gathering grass for the camels and cigars for the Magi on the eve of Three Kings Day. And I remember the joy of discovering a gift by the bed early in the morning—usually the one toy we got for the whole year. I also remember being about 10 years old, and hearing my friends talk about how so and so woke up in the middle of the night and discovered his father smoking the cigar meant for the Kings! So much for the Wise Men traveling from afar.

I knew that one day I would grow up to be somebody’s King—or Queen—and be charged with the privilege and pleasure of making wishes come true. But never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that this Queen would be called upon to deliver over-the-counter-medicine for the Cuban people, common citizens who are the casualties of an embargo that benefits the Cuban government by deflecting attention from its failed policies and gross violations.

I long for a world where I don’t have to play Queen...not even for a day!