But what a ting eeh! As some would say: "What a craases!" The unemployment rate has been thrown out of whack. Institutions of learning are churning out graduates in search of jobs. Employers turning out employees to go and search for jobs elsewhere! Where? According to a local financial commentator, the next three years will be lean years for the people of Jamaica, due to the global financial famine. Faced with the current economic dilemma, many persons are pressing the panic button, hoping that someone will respond with solutions.
Some politicians have opted for a cut in their salary as part of the solution. Some people are trying to "tun hand to make fashion." Junior doctors want more on their salary to stave off "starvation". Teachers, nurses and other workers are squealing and screaming for their top-up, as prices move up everywhere!
In the midst of all this, many minds are being put into a tailspin by the myriads of voices predicting a dim future.
I BELIEVE
Like our Governor General, I BELIEVE. I strongly believe that the worst of times can be the best of times. These challenging days present us with great opportunities to become more neighbourly and interdependent. More resilient and more creative. As the world's economic storm pelts our shores, packing winds strong enough to destroy our economic fortresses and break our spirit, we must act quickly and decisively.
As I have said time and again, there is great power in being generous to a neighbour (any one who has a need that you can meet). Surely, neighbourliness can be a great resistance against economic destruction.
Instead of becoming stingier, holding tightly to our resources for a "rainy day", which may never come, let's begin to share some of what we have with someone else. I once read about a widow who, during a time of famine, had just a little cornmeal and a little oil to prepare what would have been the last meal for herself and her son, before dying of starvation. On hearing of a neighbour who was in dire need of something to eat, the widow decided to share the little that she had with him. What followed was beyond her wildest dreams. Having shared the little with him she, never grew hungry for the rest of the famine which lasted for years - that was divine favour! We can all qualify for this favour.
May I use this opportunity to encourage every neighbour to take out a little something for someone else today? A little money, a little rice and flour, a little sugar, some peas, a tin or two of mackerel or sardines ... put them in a box and label it: FOR MY NEIGHBOUR. Put it in your motorvehicle if you drive. You will meet a neighbour who needs them to eat another day. I see them every day. If you need assistance in finding these neighbours, feel free to call me at 906-3167. If we can do this once per week we could significantly reduce the tension and anxiety being experienced by many families as a result of the economic storm.
Helpful word
Giving to the needy has a way of multiplying what's left in our storehouses so that you will never run out.
A helpful word to some of our strong neighbours who always consider themselves helpless: they must begin to look at what they can do to help another human being. The creator knew exactly what he was doing when he placed us in this world. He gave us two hands: one to give and the other to receive. Those who see it as their duty to beg must remember that if God wanted us to be beggars he would have fitted us with two begging pans rather that two working hands. As a matter of fact, the bible states clearly that if a man does not work he should not eat? That's a warning to the lazy!
Come to think of it though yuh know, nobody should be walking up and down begging money to buy a bulla and a pack of biscuit when there is so much idle, fertile land almost everywhere waiting for some pumpkin seeds or carrot, yam, banana, cabbage and all those health-giving ground provision!
Whatever we do, we must survive this economic storm. Instead of sitting by expecting a gloomy future let's focus on some new things we can do as we ride it through.
This could be an opportunity for many of us to deal with the sin of gluttony and overweight by practicing to eat less - and share a meal with someone else.
"When you walk through a storm,
Hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm is a golden light
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and torn
Walk on; walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone"
Thanks to kind neighbours
Let me say thanks to some neighbours who have reached out to their neighbours with favours in recent times. Be inspired!
1. Thanks to Sharon (Portland) for offering a queen-sized bed to the two sisters who needed one to help with their nightly rest.
2. Thanks to Jackie (St Catherine), Olando (Manchester), Pam, Pearl, Pamella and Debbie for their kind donation of clothing for their neighbours.
3. Joyce, St Mary, thanks for offering accommodation to your needy neighbour.
4. thanks to the neighbour who is giving a mattress to assist with her neighbour's comfort
5. Thanks to 14-year-old Romario, (St Andrew), for donating a text book to Nadia, a student from another school
6. Thanks to Sarah (England), for financial contribution to her neighbour in Jamaica
7. Many thanks to 10-year-old Chevoy (Clarendon) for donating literacy book to another student in St James
8. Thanks to Prudence (Manchester) for donating accounts books to students who needed one to help prepare for his exams.
HERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP NEIGHBOURS
1. Brenton, Kingston: met upon hard times. Now moves around in a wheelchair, which is badly in need of a battery. He cannot afford one.
2. Sonia, Clarendon: sons 13 and 14 have no clothing for church or a bed to sleep on. Asking neighbours to help
3. Henretta, St James: lost her husband, the bread winner, in need of neighbours helps with 15 and 16 year old daughters. Clothing needed. A bed and a stove also.
4. Neighbour, Clarendon: house destroyed leaving 10 of them in a quandary. In need of household items and clothing
5. Neighbour, single parent: unemployed with 3 children to care for. In need of a crib, a dresser and food items
6. Neighbour, unemployed and in need of stove with an oven to help generate an income through baking
7. Yvonne, asking for neighbours financial assistance to help with her brother's hip replacement
8. Neville, asking for zinc and plywood etc to help restore house for 87 year old mother. Does not have financial resources to help her at this time
To help, please call 906-3167, 884-3866 or 373-7745 or send e-mail to: neighbourtoo@yahoo.com and we will make the link up. Those who desire to make financial donations to this project may make deposits to Acct # 351 044 276 at the National Commercial Bank. Bank routing #: JNCBJMKX
Prayers
Following persons are saying thanks for their neighbours prayers
(1) Miss Jackson. St Andrew: suffered from diabetes, arthritis and got a stroke sometime ago. Could not do anything to help herself. Called the praying neighbour for prayer. Health has greatly improved since the prayer
(2) Christie, Manchester: had a heart condition and called the praying neighbour for prayer. Giving thanks to the Lord today for complete healing after the neighbour prayed.
(3) Vivienne, St Catherine: had a hole in her kidney and a cyst in her womb. Called her neighbour to pray with her. Reporting that the doctors are puzzled at the disappearance of the cyst and the hole after the neighbour prayed
Thanks to Sisters Pauline and Morgan who prayed with the neighbours above.
Until next week, remember to reach out to someone with a helping hand, the hand you touch maybe the one to reach out to you tomorrow.
Love your neighbour as yourself and you will always have good neighbours.
Have a good "neighbourday"
- Gussie