THE EDITOR, Sir:

Rev Dick is right. In his column 'Doubting Mother Teresa' in the Gleaner, October 30, he wrote: "It is highly possible that most Christians, as they journey through life will experience things that will shatter one's faith in God. What do we do when we experience these barren times? It is a time to go back to basics and practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, worship, reading and meditating on the word of God and do acts of charity..."

Is it beyond debate that the Reverend gentleman's article is one of deep spiritual significance. It carries a real message of the fact that we all fall short and that we all doubt, but not only that, it carries the message of what to do when we experience barren times.

Since I am one of those who is very critical, let me take the opportunity to congratulate Rev. Dick on this article that resonated well with me and no doubt, with many other persons who read it. Here, I see that Rev. Dick is being a pastor first.

Much welcomed article

This is a much welcomed article as opposed to others which I have heavily criticised. I notice that there was one 'response to Shaw should resign', which was dedicated solely to me. We who write must never think that we are above criticism. In my response to your 'Audley Shaw should resign' my own life was threatened. It doesn't worry me because for me to live is Christ and to die is great gain. We 'men of the cloth' do have a responsibility to comment on social issues but within reason and without bias.

I have no doubt that in your 16 years of writing in The Gleaner you would have written good pieces like this. Again, thanks for a good article. Church history, religion (sound christian teaching) suits you. 'love must be the motivating factor for doing good works and for exercising spiritual gifts if we are to experience fulfilment in our deeds'.

I am, etc.,

DAREN. S. LARMOND

Optilearn1@yahoo.com