What does COVID-19 pandemic management and Road Management have in common? I sat on a chair by the window of my hotel room looking out as the morning sun, partially blocked by the hotel building, casts a shadow on a major highway intersection. The intersection is like a spider web with several lanes crisscrossing overContinue reading “Covid and Road Management”
Author Archives: donalddeanchambers
The Jigsaw Puzzle – Metaphor for the Synodal Journey
Each piece of a jigsaw puzzle represents a human story – the story of a lay person, a clergy, a bishop. Each piece has a different shape, different contour, different colour – no one person’s story is the same as another’s. Alone by itself, every piece is like a fish out of water, helpless, lifeless,Continue reading “The Jigsaw Puzzle – Metaphor for the Synodal Journey”
Synodal Eyes
Along with scores of “Thanksgiving Day” airplane passengers I stood anxiously awaiting the arrival of my luggage on the conveyor belt. A Miami airport worker arrived with a young man in a wheelchair and stopped about six feet to my right. Clearly a patient and victim of an orthopedic surgeon, the dreadlocks afro-looking young manContinue reading “Synodal Eyes”
Construction At What Cost?
THE EDITOR, Madame: Recently, I returned to Jamaica after 18 months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and the closure of the international borders of Trinidad and Tobago. At first sight, I was awestruck by visible signs of a booming construction industry – incredible high-rise residential buildings in Kingston and St. Andrew, Business Processing OutsourcingContinue reading “Construction At What Cost?”
Corruption
THE EDITOR, Madame: Corruption in Jamaica’s public sector has dominated the headlines in the print and electronic media for the last several weeks: Alleged corruptive activity at the Rural Agricultural Development Agency, Clarendon Alumina Production, and the Ministry of Education. In a recent radio interview, Dr. Trevor Munroe, Executive Director of the National Integrity Commission,Continue reading “Corruption”
Christmas Arrives, Christ Arrives
Like a river flowing rapidly downstream, Christmas Day arrives. After a yearlong journey Christ arrives. At the arrival, I feel both joyful and fearful. Joy triggered by the gift of family and friends, the gift of my father’s life…his heart almost failed him, joy at witnessing the providential intervention of God over the last fewContinue reading “Christmas Arrives, Christ Arrives”
Christmas – Birth of Awareness
In my mindful meditation on Christmas Eve morn, I became aware, for the first time, of five distinct sounds coming from birds…from the base voice of cooing doves to the soprano pitch of an unrecognizable bird. In silence I sat, allowing my mind to be bathed in these distinguishing sounds. Their melodic sounds gently flowedContinue reading “Christmas – Birth of Awareness”
The Word SYNOD
Five different and unique letters in relationship with each other. Like the meaning of the word – “common road” – all five letters dance together to create a movement and meaning. Synod is like . . . . . . . letters coming together to form words, . . . . words coming together toContinue reading “The Word SYNOD”
Out of the Depths
“Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord.” I feel…I find myself in this deep, dark, seemingly hopeless emotional and mental hole, unable to climb out. Each attempt I make, I fall flat to the ground. I feel alone and lonely in this dark space, with face down, rooted in the ground. Intermittently,Continue reading “Out of the Depths”
Mia Mottley Tide
Led by Prime Minister the Honourable Mia Mottley, Barbados became a Republic on November 30, 2021 (Feast of St. Andrew), severing political allegiance to the historically tainted British Monarchy. This brave and bold move is like the interrelationship between the tide, timing and skills needed for surfing. Surfers paddle on their surfboards out to theContinue reading “Mia Mottley Tide”
Beloved Reflections 