Faith

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In life, people react differently to situations of peril and danger. Some panic outright, others manage to keep their calm and still others stand so strong in their faith that they cannot be shaken even in times of adversity.

Yesterday afternoon, while at work, I suddenly saw the ceiling lights begin to shake uncontrollably. At first I thought it was another of our regular wind storms that we have become so accustomed to. It was only when the table and then the whole room started vibrating with great force accompanied by a deafening noise that I realized it was an earthquake tremor.
I must admit that I did not really panic as I was transfixed just watching everything vibrate for almost 45 seconds which did leave me with a feeling of dizziness that continues to persist until now.
This is not the first time that we have experienced a strong tremor. Eleven years ago, a similar strong tremor had struck at midnight. I recall the whole room spinning and my bed moving from one side to another with the force of the tremor.

There is a story narrated on how a Captain who was praying while the sea was calm was ridiculed by the passengers on what was the need to pray when the weather was smooth. Later however, a strong storm raged the waters, the frightened passengers went quickly to the Captain urging him to join them in prayer but the Captain replied that he prayed only when the sea was calm, In the face of the storm, he performed his duty at the wheel to save the passengers, sure that the prayers said earlier would help him and the others out.

Similarly, if our faith is built on a daily strong prayer life, we can be sure that our prayers and those of our loved ones will grant us the desired protection. It would not then be as if we were running at the last moment to the feet of the Lord for help. When we are standing on a strong foundation, we know for sure that we are already being held in the palm of His hand. When we have given ourselves up to Him in total surrender of our lives, He will not allow any harm to befall us.
The promises of our Lord in terms of protection are so great as mentioned in Psalms 91. This psalm when recited daily and in the face of danger has the power to avert disasters.

Last evening when I attended the Eucharist, the low attendance in Church saddened me because I felt that more people ought to have been there in the presence of the Lord to thank Him for saving us from what could have been a great tragedy. The Creator should always be given top priority. Creation follows afterwards. It was also alarming to note that people preferred to be glued to their social network posting comments after comments about the tremor instead of trying to keep themselves safe or resorting to prayer when it struck.
This attitude definitely raises an important question as to where do our priorities lie? Who is the only person that can save us in danger? It is the Lord.

We read in 1 Peter 1:24:25; "All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.”

We can safely take refuge under the shadow of His wings. As Luke has pointed out in 1:78-79; “The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness to guide our feet in the path of peace.”

After all, we have the greatest promise of all time in the words of the Lord himself that He will always uphold us with His righteous right hand.

Maria Franco

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