Much to be ‘Thankful’ for

Q: Archbishop J, what is the state of the soul of our nation (V)?

We have been journeying to explore the state of the soul of our nation. It began with applying classical tools of spiritual direction to the nation’s collective unconscious through an examination of the national discourse, the general sensibility of its people, and the pervasive feeling of desolation.

We noted a widespread sense of hatred for the place and a desire to escape. The latter is classical acedia—the noonday demon or sloth. Our nation was in a state of desolation, and we, the people, were exhibiting all the signs of this spiritual malaise.

In Carnival 2025, as we have seen, something happened. There was a shift in the unconscious. This was detected through deep listening to the music of Carnival. My thesis is that Carnival is to the collective what a dream is to the individual—a window to the soul. Just as a spiritual director listens to a dream to discern the inner dynamics of spiritual movement, so the spiritual director of the nation must listen to Carnival to unravel the subtle and not-so-subtle movements of the national spirit.

We have seen four songs that break the mould. Each speaks to hope in the most unlikely way. Each reveals something stirring in the deep national unconscious. Collectively, they suggest a clear yet fragile state of consolation—hope. We began with Freetown Collective’s ‘Take Me Home’, then 3Canal’s ‘Where We Going’ and ‘Answer the Call’. Lastly, we journeyed with ‘We Rise’ by Yung Bredda. Each of these is an anthem of hope that signals a reversal in the state of our soul. Together, they signal a movement toward hope and resilience—a stubborn resistance to negativity and despair: “But don’t give up; don’t give in / no, never surrender, never give in” (3Canal).

There is also a sense of destiny, faith, and hope in a brighter future: “But the rhythm of hope is strong / Feel de beat go guide us along / Plant the seed of change in the ground / And reap the fruits of love from this song” (Yung Bredda). Something is stirring in the soul.

A new spiritual movement

Our first four songs are amazing and hopeful. But ‘Thankful’ signals a spiritual breakthrough. It confirms the suspicion awakened by the songs before.

‘Thankful’, performed by Farmer Nappy (Darryl Newton Henry) and written by Mical Teja, could be considered a spiritual song. Yet it carries all the marks of a Soca hit. It breaks through the collective unconscious of despair and opens an anthem of hope and gratitude. The chorus:

And I shouting:

Oh Lord, ah thankful

Oh Lord, ah thankful

Is you give me health and strength

It is clear: there is gratitude to God for the many blessings received, and this must be proclaimed for all to hear. He is not whispering—he is shouting. Gratitude wells up from within and overflows. The song’s depth can be sensed in the first lines:

Another day above ground ah say

Ah focusing on the positives

Because yesterday I was down

People do me wrong

But is love in we heart

When they try to take me for clown

I do them no wrong

Jah Jah have we back

This is not gratitude because all is well. This is gratitude in the face of persecution, belittling, and hardship. This is resilience in the face of opposition. One can hear echoes of the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Mt 5:11).

This is mature Christianity, living by the new value system of the Kingdom. It differs from the immaturity of desolation and despair that sees no hope. Further on, he says:

All the hate and bacchanal

Is not in we nature

Food on we table

Ah good and ah able

This line is powerful: “All the hate and bacchanal is not in we nature”. He could easily have said, “Not in we DNA.” It is not who we are inherently; it is learned behaviour, and it is destructive. Listen to the talk shows. See how the media amplifies the negative. See how politicians stir racial divisions to secure votes. But it is not in our nature. We are better than that. This is a prophetic call to our higher selves—our true nature.

When he says, “I do them no wrong,” he rejects retaliation. It is not in his nature to return evil for evil. Why? “Jah Jah have we back.” There is a relentless belief and trust in God, freeing him from the need to respond in kind. This is a spiritual breakthrough.

Awakening

As a spiritual director discerning the movement of the collective unconscious through Carnival, I must pay attention. In an individual who has been in desolation, the moment gratitude breaks in is profound; even if tentative or sporadic, it signifies a spiritual movement that demands attention.

To discern the soul of a directee, we look for three movements: contrition, gratitude, and compassion. These three mark a new stage of spiritual awakening.

In the Bible, contrition is often the first response when God appears. The prophet Isaiah (6:5) and St Peter (“Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” – Lk 5:8) both show this. A genuine spiritual life begins with contrition—an honest recognition of the person’s faults before God.

Gratitude follows. When God forgives us, when grace touches our wretchedness, the soul cannot help but overflow with thanks.

In a 30-day retreat I once did, halfway through, gratitude sprang up and overflowed my life. Something had happened.

‘Thankful’ is not just another Carnival song. It signifies that something has shifted. Somewhere, somehow, our nation has had an awakening. Gratitude has emerged. After gratitude comes compassion, the third spiritual movement.

Gratitude

Neuroscience has extensively studied the effects of gratitude. It is now proven that gratitude rewires the brain. fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) studies show that gratitude increases activity in the brain’s reward systems, leading to lasting positive changes in perception and emotion.

Gratitude also reduces cortisol levels, heart rate, and blood pressure and improves sleep. It enhances overall well-being, deepens relationships, sharpens clarity of thought, and even extends life.

Over 500 years ago, St Ignatius of Loyola developed the Examen—a simple prayer built around several conversations with God. The first is a reflection on gratitude: reviewing the day and naming specific things for which we are grateful. It is a life-changing spiritual practice.

Key Message:

Gratitude always marks a shift in spiritual consciousness in the soul.

Action Step:

Every night, have a conversation with God about the things in your day for which you are grateful.

Scripture Reading:

Philippians 4:4-9