Time to renew our faith
published: Sunday | October 3, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

JAMAICA, AS an island economy of the Caribbean, certainly has its share of achievements and victories as well as defeats, problems and natural disasters. We respond gladly to the positive things and sometimes we doubt because of the negative things. Hurricane Ivan has caused us to experience more unity representing a challenge to many sectors including mass media, health, education, security and industries.

We could ask the perpetual question as to why human suffering is permitted. Why do we have hurricanes, poverty, problems, death or war? It would seem that we must search for a manifestation of God through and beyond our circumstances. When things go well, we easily appreciate the goodness of the Lord. However, in the midst of our negativities, we can detect mercy, order, salvation and help from the One who made Earth and who ordered the universe. He is in charge and in control, the same yesterday, today and forever.

After the Olympic Games, two hurricanes and back to school, it is a time to experience and renew our faith in a living, caring, personal, intervening God who is ever present through the pages of history. May we be even better and better at celebrating our victories, with thanks to God, being in a state of preparedness regarding hurricanes, and, most of all, being prepared and ready for Christ Himself. Thanks be to the Heavenly Father for His great rulership over us and for the many persons whom He uses to help and order and restore us continually especially in times of disaster and crisis. Get well soon, Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

C.D SMITH

Ocho Rios

St. Ann