I can interpret John Guillaumier's letter (The Sunday Times, May 18) in the spirit of the Psalmist or Job turning to the good Almighty, crying with disbelief: "But you are so caring and loving... Why?"

Let us consider this scenario: The agents of erosion have reduced to dust massive mountain ranges. The debris eventually settles in the deep lowlands below the seas. This continuous process is a smoothing one, eroding high regions, and filling up hollows. It is evident that through geological history, these agents of erosion would have reduced our planet to one totally covered with oceans with no dry land to support terrestrial life, though it would abound in marine life.

Plate tectonics are responsible for continents continually rising above sea level. One can easily realise the importance of earth movements which neutralise the 'smoothing effect'.

The Maltese islands appeared some 17 million years ago through such movements. Using his unique sense of observation, man, the Creator's masterpiece in this physical world of ours, can take a glimpse of the great mighty powers of our good and loving Lord God, the Creator, who, having created the universe, empowered it to regenerate itself.

The fact that man decides to make his dwellings in earthquake zones is no one's fault, certainly not the Creator's. Perhaps in instances of major quake disasters, the solidarity, compassion and help offered by all nations to the poor victims, bridge racism and creeds, and bring out positive Christian values of the human character as best detailed by our Lord's teaching: 'Do unto others as you would like others do unto you.'

So let us be humble and see our true place. We are so limited in comparison to the Almighty, we should not dare (in fact, cannot) question His ways.