GOD WAS AT WORK DURING CARIFESTA

Aug 30, 2008 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

On the morning of the day of the Opening of Carifesta X there was no hint of bad weather. Everything was so pleasant and it seemed as if we would have the perfect day to kick off this wonderful festival which has thrilled us all.

As midday came, I came out to take a look at the skies which is normally in these tropical parts a good indicator of the weather in store.

The place was sunny and bright. I said to myself we could not ask for a more perfect day on which to have the grand opening ceremony of Carifesta X.

However, within ten minutes of the scheduled start, dark clouds began to hover in the sky. I said to myself that it would just be a passing shower since dark clouds are normally associated with short but intense rainfall.

I was confident that the weather would not present any threat at all to this long-awaited festival. Minutes to the opening, the darkness grew more ominous. This time I became more concerned because there was something frightening about the dark clouds.

I have some experience with storms having spent time at sea and therefore I am not easily discouraged by low-hanging dark clouds.

What sent shivers down my spine however was the stillness; the calm before the storm. There was something frightening about the whole thing.

It soon became real dark. The clouds then crackled and bolts of lightning descended. I feared the worse.
The rains came down. It came down in torrents. It was a mini-storm with a difference. It was frightening.

I found myself for the first time in my life actually wondering whether the world was coming to an end. There was no earthquake, no tsunami, nor any earth-shaking development.

But there was something eerie about the storm that afternoon, something that put the fear of the Lord into my heart that day. The storm eventually went away, but not before soaking persons in the stands at the National Stadium.

Even some of those who scurried for cover under the stands found that the protection provided could not contain the rain and the wind. It was scary. This was unusual weather. It was as if God wanted to leave this nation with a message.

The more I reflect on what happened that afternoon, the more I am convinced that there was some Divine message being sent to this nation. It was as if God was saying to Guyana that unless you get yourselves in order, Guyana will not be saved.

The darkness and fear did not cause mass panic, but it must have generated sufficient fear to have persons wonder as to just what was taking place. For me, that afternoon will remain a sign that a Divine force is not pleased with what is taking place in Guyana.

The Creator was sending a message to this nation to turn to God, turn back on to the righteousness, to deflect evil and wickedness which are the bane of mankind. There is too much theft and corruption taking place within our country.

There is too much advantage taking place in Guyana. The powerful are trampling on the weak, especially some persons who feel that they have the authority to do as they please.

This sort of thing will offend the Creator and incur wrath. Guyana needs to put that aside and to become a more disciplined society with less cronyism, nepotism and skullduggery. Guyana needs to turn to God and to return to the path of righteousness.

I think we have a wonderful festival. I think those who worked hard to bring off Carifesta X should be congratulated. There are many positives and many wonderful things that took place over the past few days.

However, what will remain indelibly imprinted in my memory as I age and recall Carifesta X will be the scary moments before the grand opening.

I do not think we were dealing with a freak weather phenomenon. I think God was saying to us that we need to turn away from wickedness.

We need to stop the wrong things that are happening in high places. We need to return to God so that this nation can be saved.

I think God was at work during this festival. Do you really believe that what happened on the opening afternoon was just a one-off incident?

Do you really believe that it was a mere coincidence that after hunting down Fineman for years that he was caught just as the festival was winding down?

No these things are not coincidences. God was at work during this festival. All praise and glory be to his name! Guyana, ensure that your leaders walk the straight and narrow path!