The Christian Association of the Blind (CAB) of Liberia in collaboration with the Greater Lions Club of Monrovia will today climax activities marking this year's celebration of the "White Cane and Safety Day". The celebration that began yesterday will continue today with a parade this morning through the principal streets of Monrovia followed by an indoor program to climax the day at the Monrovia City Hall. The blind along with members of the Greater Lions Club of Monrovia yesterday joined the First United Methodist Church congregation at the church's edifice to celebrate the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost known as the great thanksgiving or laity.

CAB's boss, Beyan Kota told the worshippers that they as blind persons, should not be seen only as handicaps, instead as a challenge to have not only their conditions changed, but the conditions of the larger society. Mr. Kota who cited the condition of Apostle Paul said, indeed he had a thorn in his life but that drew him even closer to God and that the Lord used his loss of sight to call and redirect Paul's life. He told the congregation amidst cheers that the Lord who makes no mistakes has destined them (the blind) to shape the lives of others who are frustrated, discouraged and weary over the circumstances of their lives.

He said no matter the conditions, they all are human beings and it is his prayer that as one of their members, Brother James Paye of the Sunday morning class was honored amongst the special lay persons by the church, some day the blind will rise to even delivering sermons. He thanked the government of Liberia for recognizing the blind in the country by proclaiming the day of the white cane as a working holiday adding, in other countries the blind are hardly noticed. He also thanked the FUMC family for receiving them to form part of the congregation on such a historic day in the history of the church and for their measurement of every persons of society. Mr. Kota who praised the Lions club of Monrovia for the level of support given the blind in the country; used the occasion to call on all Liberians to think about making a contribution to the efforts of the needs of the blind. The guest preacher, Reverend Emmanuel Giddings of the Alfalit International Liberia Incorporated, for his part spoke on "Between The Hands Of Time". Rev. Giddings told the worshippers that time is wonderful but very complex and the most difficult word to define. The laity Sunday preacher said every event, whether good or bad occurs between the hands of time and everything that happens between said time can be determined by the end of the event. He said Liberia cannot be striving to be a better nation when people are still carrying the old nature of corruption. Neither can one sow corruption and reap prosperity or nepotism and reap love.

He said the right thing has been done the wrong time in the country or vice-versa but whatever the case, no two things can occupy the same space at the same time. Defining time as God's way of keeping everything from happening at once, Rev. Giddings said that King Solomon was right when he said in Ecclesiastics 3:1-8 that there is a time for everything. He encouraged the FUMC to see itself as having a greater role in bringing the entire United Methodist Church family at peace concluding that they can make a difference between the hands of time. For his part, the Lion Club president Clemenceau Urey said many Liberian are under privileged yet have great health needs. He said the Lion Club is a social club aimed at aiding the less fortunate, disclosing that presently it is working with major hospitals such as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital to create a diagnostic system in the country. He called on all well meaning Liberians to join in the process of bringing modern hospital systems in the country. Meanwhile, the FUMC used the day of thanksgiving or laity to recognize several of its members including Mother Marie Harris who was honored as lay person of the year 2006-2007.