The Editor, Sir:

I join those who give God thanks for sparing the life of Usain Bolt and the passengers who were in his car that overturned and ended up in a ditch along Highway 2000. God's gracious mercies extended to the avoidance of broken bones or any serious injury even though the car was extensively damaged.

God's grace and mercy should not be construed as good luck, but rather as God's invitation to the beneficiaries to examine their life-paths and as an opportunity to make changes to do God's will. It is hoped that Usain will emerge from this experience with a recognition that accidents do not happen; they are caused. We should all endeavour to play our part in not causing accidents.

Prudence requires that in addition to obeying the official speed limits, visibility and road surface conditions must be factored in determining safe speeds at which we drive. Start early for your journey and never try to make up time by speeding. Time lost in an accident is invariably much more than that which one tried to save by speeding.

But for the grace of God, there go I

Let none of us get self-righteous and pontificate 'that could not happen to me'. Instead let us say, 'But for the grace of God, there go I'.

To the extent that the young will accept counselling from the right sources, some of the errors of youthful exuberance may be avoided. We should remember always that there is a consequence for our every action.

Many of us survived our youth not because we were perfect, but because of God's grace and mercies. My plea to all is not from a tower of righteousness but from the congregation of grateful beneficiaries of his grace and mercy.

Usain, we look forward to your early recovery and successful continuation of a career which is still on the up. Never forget; 'Our destiny is determined by the choices we make'.

I am, etc.,

LUCIUS C. WHITE

Kingston 6