AND THE GROUND SHOOK . . . . . . .

EARTHQUAKE AND AFTERSHOCK

This morning I went to work, not really wanting to even get out of bed this morning. I felt it would be the usual day with fellow employees and employers bickering and fighting over the most mundane things. I had a scheduled meeting with a number of the general public around 9 am, but I was busy and missed the start of it. However at 9:08 am while in a discussion with 7 underlings the room began to move or in this case sway, now I am coming down with the cold and I thought that I was getting a dizzy spell but then everyone around me began to run, it was then I realized that an earthquake was in progress. (6.1 magnitude quake, 23 miles nothwest of Trinidad)

The first thing I thought was weather my wife and children were OK and weather the house they were in was going to stand since it was already cracking because of earth shifting. I knew at the same moment that God was going to always be there to protect us and I did not worry anymore about it. I did step outside and was about to call when my wife called at the same time, I felt relief and pangs of wanting to leave work and hug my wife and children. Interestingly enough I was not scared nor did I panic since I felt deep down inside that everything was going to be OK and all of this was due to God.

It was interesting to see the room move, the wall sway and the light fixtures move as though someone was on a swing. The people I was with opened their eyes so wide that I thought they were going to pop out and some did get white as sheets. Outside I heard screaming and some people began to run in panic, my boss did try to calm the situation but when dealing with people who could not even think it was a difficult task. After calling my wife and the reassurance that the four of us were OK I went back to work. Of course there was the usual analyses of the event and discussions on what to do and what not to do.

News cane to us that we should expect an aftershock and at 2:23 pm we did have a strong jolt measuring 5.3. Even though it was not as strong as the first, it did feel as though it lasted longer, I again called my wife and found out that all was well. The usual chatter ensued and people were wondering if this was not a warning from God. At 7 pm the local news reported that many buildings had minor damage and one person fell from a later and died, luckerly not more destruction occurred especially with such a magnitude earthquake.

The thing is warning or not, just knowing that God is there in your life, really makes a person feel secure in knowing that they don't have to worry or panic about anything.

MY JOB AND COUNTRY

WORK AND POLITICS

Today I went to the beach with my wife and children, this event is always one that makes me so proud and honoured to be alive. However, I took some time to look at the rest of society and wonder what has gone wrong. Now, I am not one to condemn or complain since I have made some great mistakes in my life and still continue ever so often to do so. The thing is people, and I mean most of my fellow citizens, have really lost that human touch - what I mean is we as a people no longer aspire to that wonderful and humbling name people give to us, that being a friendly and warm people.

I used to believe that everyone I met growing up were nice people and I used to look for the good things in them while overlooking the bad. I was really naive since most people are not very nice and your most trusted friend today might be your worst enemy tomorrow. The most selfish acts I saw at the beach today ranged from ill-mannered people to down right rude behaviour. So have we lost our compassion and humanity? I would like to say yes.

I have been back to work for nearly a month now and I find it very hard to relate to anyone working with me. Most of the time they find themselves involved in the most serious of conversations, but these revolve around another colleague. There are those who bicker, back-stab and those who just love gossip and story-telling. What makes my blood boil however is the constant hypocrisy, especially when those who talk about others do the same thing themselves. I am a bit tired of all of it and want to change jobs.

For the time being I try to stay to myself and do my work but between the type of employees I have to deal with and my colleagues, I don't know which is worse. One thing is for sure I am getting really tired and feel that my job is draining me like a Vampire. Yet, I stay and make the best of it because I always turn to God for that support.

The other side of the difficulties of life is the state of the country. You ever wonder where immature children who have never grown up turn up? Well, they become politicians and, worse yet, they become the leaders of a country. I don't ever get involved in politics far less my country's politics. I may discuss it with my wife or people at work but usually I keep it to myself.

However, in the last few years the economic situation has gotten harder with children at the top making decisions and playing with people's lives. No one ever asks God what he wants for his people, they make grand decisons and policies and force all to accept. What is the result? no democracy, white elephants, increase in inflation, poor health facilities, increased industry causing pollution and of course my favourite, more houses and stadiums while food prices sky rocket.

That's all I want to say about that, maybe it will change and maybe it won't but one thing I have noticed is that no one really cares about their fellow man nor do they care to just take a second to talk to God about anything.

So those are my ramblings for tonight, I was going to write about my behavoiur of late but I will leave that for another time.

By the way, "Happy Republic Day" to all my fellow Trinbagonians !!!!!!!!!!!

PERCEPTION OF RACE

IS RACE AND MONEY THE SAME?

I am back out to work now and boy do I wish I was on holiday again. Its hard to say but I don't know which saps my energy more, the tropical sun or my employees. I get up at a very early hour and drag myself to work knowing full well that I would be on my feet for about 6 hours. Anyway its been getting better and talking to God when it becomes really unbearable helps.

So, your wondering about the title of this post, well of late too many people have been pointing out my race and its been getting very annoying. About 3 months ago my wife and I were cutting some trees in the yard of our very demanding and pain inducing landlady from hell when a number of people passed by seeking a job to cut the trees. I told them that if I had money that I would gladly give them a job. I went on to say that because I had no money I was doing it myself and the reply was that "YOU WHITE AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE MONEY". Now this perception occurs to much in my society and it is one that really gets to me. I have never associated the colour of my skin or for that matter anyone's colour with money.

I know that people would say that this is a perception rooted in slavery, where the planter was seen as the one controlling the fourtunes, but I am not a planter nor am I holding foutunes in my hand. I am just a hard working, God fearing family man. I have mentioned before that people are always associating one thing or other to race and it just confirms to me how narrow minded and ignorant people are.

Thats all I want to say for now.