Tragic island

WE MUST move on. We must do better. We must be positive. The spiritual battle between despair and hope requires that as Christians we do not give up hope on any person, on any nation, on the world at large. No matter what the sin or the weakness, we must confess, forgive, and move on.

That's why the true richness of Jamaican culture is our ability to go forward, to pick ourselves up, dust off our clothes, and start all over again. We are a Christian country deep in the depths of our souls.

Despair lurks as the tool of the devil. Despair, negativity, cynicism cannot win any battle. In despair, we lay down and die, we give up on ourselves and on others.

Yet we must confess the truth. We are all sinners, weak, frail and deeply attracted to evil. However, our attraction to good, to Christ, to God is much greater. We need to pull ourselves together, out of the negativity towards ourselves, others, and our nation. Otherwise we will not advance, and do good and build up our nation.

Negative and unforgiving

Jamaica is a tragic island because we are so negative and unforgiving. Do not forget: two of our Brothers were murdered. The Government did nothing about it. The police did not lift a finger. The poor and the nation at large were shocked and questions were asked, "Why not leave the ghetto? Why not leave the island?"

But God does not allow that. Our faithfulness and determination to continue have brought about much respect and love from many, if not most of our people.

Whether it be Portia Simpson or Bruce Golding, we must understand we are all sinners, weak and vulnerable. We must not pretend to be otherwise. That would make of us hypocrites. We are fallible.

We must confess our wrongs and go forward. We must count our gains and not our losses. We must support each other and build up one another.

The worst that could happen to our island is that we lose our sense of truth, and our need to be corrected, especially our leaders. A woman or man who cannot look at self, and say, "I have done wrong, I need to do better," lacks humility and will never grow in truth and wisdom.

Genuine love

Critical voices are seen as adversaries in Jamaica. To differ, to disagree, and to be critical makes of us enemies, whereas love is built on the foundation of truth. Unless we can be critical of our own, we cannot have genuine love.

I find in leadership, whether it be church or politics, too much talk, too many words, too much rhetoric; promises not kept, emotions without reality, too much pride and not enough reality. The rich use politics, politics use the rich, Christians use words, and words do not become flesh. Therein lies our Jamaican tragedy - all appearances and pretenses. "Between the conception and the reality lies the shadow."

Let's try to be humble, truthful and productive. The Lord wants us to be good stewards of our island. Let us say what we believe, and say what we will do. In the meanwhile, let us be silent.

God bless you. We love you all from the depths of our heart.