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Prime
Minister of Fiji,
the
Honourable Laisenia Qarase
Gives full
blessings to the "Healing The
Land Team" to travel aboard and
share their message
An
Address to the Government House
of Fiji:
"Mr.
Speaker, Sir, the period since
the elections has been a time of
change for me. I have been
helped in this by the faith that
has sustained me throughout my
life. Christian love through
Jesus Christ is the source of my
transformation.
"I depend on Him to guide me in
what is right before God and in
my relationship with others, in
my family, at work and in
society as a whole.
"John Wesley, the founder of
Methodism, developed a concept
of 'Christian perfection.' I
try, in my imperfect way, to
emulate this. My understanding
of what John Wesley taught is
that if your heart is filled
with the total love that comes
from Christ, there is no room
for negative and destructive
emotions.
"This doctrine was not so much
to do with sinlessness, but with
personal growth. It is about the
attitude that should guide us in
our relationship with others,
according to the commandment of
loving your neighbor.
"I will just add that I am far
from perfect in my faith. I
often stumble and fall. But I
will never stop striving to
serve God in the best way I can,
to honour Him and to serve the
purpose for which He has called
me.
"I know in my heart that what
has transpired since the
Elections is part of God's plan
for Fiji. He has given me a part
to play in this, and I cannot
refuse Him.
"The Constitution's multi-party
requirements, against which I
have so often expressed
reservation, are now offered to
us as the way to our national
salvation. It has given us the
means to establish a
multi-ethnic Government
comprising elected leaders of
all our communities.
"My Christian beliefs tell me
that for this great journey of
multi-ethnic togetherness to
succeed, our individual and
collective human effort is not
enough. We must place our trust
in the Almighty and seek His
blessing and support.
"There is an image of Waisale
Servi at the finals of the IRB
tournament in London that stays
in my mind. I am sure you
remember it. Every time Serevi
kicked for a goal, he closed his
eyes briefly in prayer. I don't
think he was asking God for the
kick to succeed. I believe that
Serevi was saying, 'Lord, I
cannot do this alone. I place my
trust in You, and let Your will
be done.'
"I think that this applies very
much to Fiji at this time. Let
us be a God-fearing nation,
which strongly believes, through
our different faiths, in the
power of the Almighty." |
