‘I pray that all of my countrymen will awake from our slumber’.
Is getting older means we are getting wiser?  This question does not seem to generate a single answer. Someone describes wisdom as “the ability to make use of knowledge, ability to recognise right from wrong, good judgement”. One cannot talk of wisdom without referring to the story of King Solomon in the Holy Bible. In the book of 1 Kings Chapter 3 verse 9, it states “So give your servant (King Solomon) a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong”. Verse 11 continues “So God said to him, since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will give what you have asked”.

In the Book of Psalm, Chapter 111 and verse 10 says “The fear (revere) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
In the Holy Koran it tells us that we should make total submission to the will of Almighty Allah. In the Bhagawad Geeta, Lord Krishna speaking to Arjuna, told him that you are grieving over those who are not fit to be grieved at, yet you speak like a wise man.

Too often we want to skip this step, thinking we can become wise by life experience and academic knowledge alone. My friends, if we do not acknowledge God as the source of wisdom, then our very foundation for making wise decisions becomes shaky and we are prone to mistakes and foolish choices.

Do we see why the world is in the mess it finds itself in today? All the leaders in the world are educated men and women, yet the decisions they make have ruined our world and its people. I have seen brilliant men and women in our own country who are also going down the wrong path. In the writings of these men, one wonders if their belief (however strong it may be) is grounded in wise counsel.

I enjoyed the writing of Freddie Kissoon and Dr. Randy Persaud, but do you have to try to destroy the other writer to prove your point! I have seen the venom in Dr. Persaud’s writings in trying to destroy another writer, Dr. Churamanie Bissundyal, for his open letter. It appears as though no one is allowed to say anything against the governing party without a fiery response from Dr. Persaud. If this is the wisdom of these learned gentlemen, then I am really sorry for my country.

I am sincerely calling on our men and women to show respect to each other. This can only come from an unconditional love for ourselves, our neighbours and our country. That love can only be sustained if it comes from God (whoever we conceive him to be). My friends, we will know if we have the love of God in us by the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians, Chapter 5 verse 22 which states “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, meekness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

My friend our world is slowly but surely heading towards a major collapse. Let us use our energy to help each other as a good brother would do to someone in need. Let us be reminded that the oil spill in the Gulf is not by chance. In the book of Revelation, Chapter 8 verse 8 says, “The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood.”

For those of us who watched the huge fire on the oil platform which was about 9 or 10 storeys high from the sea, this platform – like a mountain – was thrown into the sea. The oil is still gushing out with no end in sight. This oil will eventually reach into the Atlantic. From there no one knows where it will go.
Maybe the shores of Guyana will also be affected. Let us think of what that will do to our marine life and those who depend on it.

I pray that all of my countrymen will awake from our slumber. It is time to live at peace with ourselves and with each other.