I just came back to Jamaica, and as I drove with Brother Jaime to Iron River near Golden Spring I was greeted with the following news: “Six young men shot and four killed! Two men wounded and in the Kingston Public Hospital.”

When we dream of a heavenly place in Jamaica we think of the rivers and the streams, the waterfalls, the huge river splashing boulders and rocks, and water spilling over the river banks. Beautiful! Jamaica is most beautiful.

And now death — blood pouring out of young men’s sides like a river. On the hillside, Tahjay Best and Errol Winter were buried. God help our country! Help our beautiful country — so pristine, so remarkable in its artistry.

These two young men were killed by gunmen in a drive-by shooting . They had danced with my group, Father Ho Lung and Friends, to help the poor.

Brother Jaime and myself climbed the hills in Iron River to the burial ground. A huge crowd gathered for the burial, including Tahjay’s and Errol’s family members. Songs were sung to a drum corps.

Father Lucas conducted the service. Tahjay’s mother climbed the hillside and sang throughout the burial, as if to celebrate or escape the tragedy at the moment. I could only stand there and pray silently, while others chatted in consternation.

The brothers provided a huge six-month pig, clean and roasted for the people at the burial.

“Respect! Respect! Respect!” That was the constant greeting with the handshakes. That was how I know and remember all my life in my country, Jamaica.

When did this dead culture begin in our country? What are we doing with all of these guns? Why do we hate rather than love each other?

We are a Christian country so why has death become a greatest thrill in our life? On social media, national TV, in our cellphones there are scenes of sex, murder, violence and death. This is what our children and even adults witness each day. But our God reminds us: I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curse!

Choose life, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord your God, heeding His voice, and holding fast to Him — for that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live in the land which the Lord would give to your father.

The death culture certainly cannot comply with the life culture which Deuteronomy advocates. Abortion, violence, anger, hatred can only poison the mind to think of death and not life.

We are not called to be children of the world but children of God. I pray: Let us respect life — a great gift from God.