The bittersweet high point of our week came from this photo, taken some months ago before a gathering in Malawi where les collines Cider Sage Jelly (lower forefront, center!) was among the dishes of honor to be sampled. 
It was sent to me by Stephen Sneed, recently retired after more than 20 years as a Dean of Students at Williams College. He had carried this little jar with care and love across an ocean and countless other boundaries to its destination in Milonde Village.
To say that Stephen shepherded many students through Williams in over two decades as dean is a gross understatement. For many, my son included, his presence during their tenure, his wisdom and compassion, made the difference between surviving and thriving. Or even, remaining in place.
Stephen traveled to Malawi as a Fulbright Scholar a little more than ten years ago, and he was hooked; he would return numerous times, bringing cargo of clothes, shoes, and other desperately needed items– this is an extremely impoverished country– eventually setting up a not-for-profit to which he planned to devote his (not) retirement.
We spoke last summer, just before the official retirement date end August; he was headed over for the coming year while his wife, Frances, would stay home and continue to teach at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. At some prodding from a village elder, he had agreed to teach courses at a local school in Malawi, in addition to running the not-for-proft; I was thinking, this is no retirement!
It was a dream he was setting out to fulfill. When I got a call from him in January this year, I thought he was just home for the holidays and calling to say hello. In fact, he had fallen gravely ill while in Malawi and had to return home for treatment.
His family has been there to help him through, and he has had some excellent medical care, including from a few of his former Williams students. We are all wishing him a return to the best of health, and soon.
I cannot say enough good about Stephen, who is simply a prince among men. I am entirely grateful to him for what he did for my son, for whom his concern, caring, and faith made an enormous difference. It is an incalculable difference that Christophe may never comprehend. Stephen would never accept any thanks, no gratitude or appreciation. He was just, doing his job.
But back to the photo. The juxtapositions to me are heartbreaking: the detail of the gorgeously carved wooden chairs, with a backdrop of rough unfinished walls, and Tupperware containers to serve. Little did it matter, the importance of the gathering was not in any finery of surroundings, but in the interior content of what each person brought to it. It is a true honor that a little jar of les collines held a place at this table.
My interview with Stephen early last spring was intended to be the first of my daily grace interviews here; such are the vagaries of life that I have yet to weave my notes together to post it. It will happen.
Meantime, this picture says it all. The grace of a man doing what he is called to do is evident in every pixel. Thank you, Stephen, for your many years of service, tremendous in my mind, to the Williams community, to Malawians, and beyond. Looking forward to you soon again bringing other flavors of les collines to the table of honor in Milonde Village, Malawi.