The Editor, Sir:

When I read the article in Wednesday's Gleaner 'Olympics not our focus' (stating the view of some churches of the Jamaica Evengelistic Mission), a passage from the Jamaican novelist, Anthony Winkler's book, The Painted Canoe, immediately came to mind:

"The argument began when Zachariah told the Parson that he thought he understood why God did not come more often to the aid of suffering men. God did not help, Zachariah solemnly said, because men called on him too often, over every little foolish trouble that only requires human effort and persistence to solve. So when real trouble came, and the sufferer called out to God, the Almighty turned a deaf ear, for he was constantly being badgered to help over foolishness."

Calling upon God, to adjudicate the outcome of a group of young men running 100 metres, would take the gold for bothering God with foolish troubles. May the man, who has persistently applied the most effort, win.

I am, etc.,

DOREEN McGANN

doreenmcgann@aim.com

JSrfSlla, Stockholm

Sweden

Via Go-Jamaica