Dear Editor,
Stress appears to be the chief mechanism by which the claim that “the love of money is the root of all evil” is validated. This is contrary to the prevalent impression that it is the “lustful” force which makes it the root.
I was a part of a group that once had the demographic data of Jamaica’s deaths from violent and non-violent trauma, chronic diseases, from HIV/AIDS, etc, presented to us by one of our senior medical officials. It showed that they were disproportionately concentrated within our inner-city communities.
Poverty seemed to be the main purveyor of stress. It has been proven that a state of poverty causes people to make wrong and less intelligent decisions.
Look more closely at our vices and we will realise that they are often aimed at eliminating or mitigating stress; consider unhealthy practices such as unsafe sex, alcoholism, smoking and overeating; all are attempts to “make the heart merry”. Also, when one is exposed to, or worse, surrounded by stress, there seems to be a tendency to share; as if it were to mutate and become contagious.
Since poverty and stress will be among us for eternity, we might as well learn to live with them in a more perfect way. We can practise to be more willing to both those who are above and below us on the “ladder of power”, even when their intentions are malicious. We can be more forgiving which, because of its need to summon up sincerity, leaves stress for dead. We can choose to learn and absorb more instead of being imposing.
A well-known maxim is that He “doesn’t give us more than what we can bear”, but another says “wherever it pop off, a deh so it stop”.
Lastly, none of us must ever think that we have gotten the “end of the stick”, for if that were so, then there are many others who have nothing to hold on to. When we are stressed, we may read a Psalm, maybe number 37, and give thanks.
Andre O Sheppy
Norwood, St James
astrangely@outlook.com
Stress appears to be the chief mechanism by which the claim that “the love of money is the root of all evil” is validated. This is contrary to the prevalent impression that it is the “lustful” force which makes it the root.
I was a part of a group that once had the demographic data of Jamaica’s deaths from violent and non-violent trauma, chronic diseases, from HIV/AIDS, etc, presented to us by one of our senior medical officials. It showed that they were disproportionately concentrated within our inner-city communities.
Poverty seemed to be the main purveyor of stress. It has been proven that a state of poverty causes people to make wrong and less intelligent decisions.
Look more closely at our vices and we will realise that they are often aimed at eliminating or mitigating stress; consider unhealthy practices such as unsafe sex, alcoholism, smoking and overeating; all are attempts to “make the heart merry”. Also, when one is exposed to, or worse, surrounded by stress, there seems to be a tendency to share; as if it were to mutate and become contagious.
Since poverty and stress will be among us for eternity, we might as well learn to live with them in a more perfect way. We can practise to be more willing to both those who are above and below us on the “ladder of power”, even when their intentions are malicious. We can be more forgiving which, because of its need to summon up sincerity, leaves stress for dead. We can choose to learn and absorb more instead of being imposing.
A well-known maxim is that He “doesn’t give us more than what we can bear”, but another says “wherever it pop off, a deh so it stop”.
Lastly, none of us must ever think that we have gotten the “end of the stick”, for if that were so, then there are many others who have nothing to hold on to. When we are stressed, we may read a Psalm, maybe number 37, and give thanks.
Andre O Sheppy
Norwood, St James
astrangely@outlook.com