Survival

I admire the resiliency of the human spirit. I wonder at its ability to rally back despite trials and sufferings. I am thankful that we can rise above our darkest moments.

A heavy cloud used to hang over my spirit when I was very young. I think now that it was the way of the enemy to hold back from me the joy of life. Thank God that He set me free. Praise God that He let me find happiness and contentment in anything and everything.

I am a survivor. By the grace of God.

Lament

I cry for the pain that you are going through.

I cry for the broken promises.

I cry for the things you took for granted.

I cry that you allowed the cares of the world to drown out the beauty of your life.

I am really grieving for the suffering that I wish you do not have to go through.

I am praying fervently that you will find healing.

I do not know when and how, but I plead to God that it will happen.

Merciful Lord, please intervene.

Shriek-filled movie

Category: Movies
Genre: Action & Adventure
Rating: ****

"I think we might have entered the wrong cinema." This was the thought that entered my mind when I saw the snow-laden wilderness and the people that this particular story is telling about. All along, I thought that I would be watching a cartoon movie! I got this idea from the poster (showing a scene that was not in the movie) since I never saw the trailer.

And then I got engrossed in the story. And I had to put my hand over my mouth since I was shrieking at various parts of the movie. I am not sure if the other movie watchers enjoyed the movie, but I did. Of course, it is not perfect but I had fun watching a Hollywood formula of a man who will do anything and is capable of everything in order to attain the love of his life.

Great movie!

*I realized in that movie the price that slaves (for example, the Israelites) had to pay in order to build the majestic Pyramids. Ah, how the thirst for power makes people abuse other people.

Cleansing from within and without

I spent my holy week in an unusual way. When I worked in a back-office so many years ago, I always found myself working during the holidays. And when I started with my current job, I got involved with a group of professionals who spend a week of their time by providing free medical and dental (and optical) services to needy churches (plus the community around it) and sharing the love of our Saviour through film showing. This year, we did this for a day. And then after that, I spent two whole days cleaning out ten-years of our lives.

It was not easy. Dust had accumulated. Rodents had eaten certain boxes. My favorite pest, the cockroach, left its trail everywhere. And harder still, was the decision-making. How do you throw away a part of your and your family's history? How do you decide which mementos to throw away and which ones to keep? How do you know when it is time to let go of something that is already past? 

There are things we have to do even if we don't want to. 

As I cleaned out that which is material, something else was being cleansed. I was forced to remember that we need to throw out things that we keep within. Like hurts, grudges, slights, jealousy, pride, envy, anger, and so many more. I mentioned it recently to my mother: there is no use crying over spilt milk. The past is gone. Gone is the past. The important thing to do is to confront the now and do our best to bring God the glory. In all our ways. Always.

I know it will not be easy. I had a hard time cleaning objects but I know that it is more difficult to exorcise the demons that haunt us. I thank God thought that He enables us to be stronger. And to be victorious.

May I always be capable of cleaning out the things from within and without!

It seems so...

... futile. 

You try to plod on but you cannot see any change. You try to be positive but nothing seems to be happening. Those you expected to somehow show the way were disappointing. I need to see them moving. Are we going anywhere?

And so I gave up. Moved on. Just remain where you think you can do more.

I feel guilty sometimes. Maybe I should just hang on for change is there, at the next bend. Maybe you should do more. Maybe... a lot of maybes.

The future... it is so hard to see. I just wish sometimes that...

On nests and birds

The birds have departed the nest. But in this case, it was more like the nest left the birds. But then, the birds have been quite ready, for some time now, to survive on their own. It was just that life has been kind to them, allowing them to continue enjoying the shelter of the secure nest.

 

Nests themselves need a respite. Either to be refurbished again or to provide haven to previously attached birds. This time, it was both.

 

It is going to be an adventure for both. The nest and the birds became complacent in their situation. Who wouldn’t be? There is safety in the familiar.

 

New experiences await them both. The birds will someday go their separate ways and may create their own nests. The old nest will surely flourish on the new tree where it is mounted on. It needs to renew its connection with the previously attached bird. The latter needs to return back to the fold.

 

There is a Great hand in control. He holds the future of the nest and birds. He has good plans for them. 

* Picture from Roy Toft, National Geographic

Romance in D by the Repertory Philippines

I don't really know how I missed seeing the ad for Romance in D. Good thing that we are technologically connected to many friends who are also connected to others. Thus, I found myself traveling back to Makati last Friday night (I was on leave) to watch the play at Onstage.

I googled the synopsis on the net. I forgot to check though if it was a musical or not (i was on a rush the whole day of Friday... i know, excuses, excuses!). Thought it was one because of Audie Gemora.

It was not really hilariously funny but one can get blown away with the play of words about music and poetry. How can one describe it? It was about communication through music and words. It was about the importance of human relationships. It was about family and friendships.

It was fun to watch the romance between Pinky Amador (Helen Norton) and Chinggoy Alonso (George Fox). There truly is no age limit for love.

Isabel Fox's (Ana Abad Santos - Bitong) acting seemed artificial to me. I cannot really imagine that she is a 40 year-old woman. But when I checked just now the Repertory website, a word caught my eye : immature. Oh, so she was supposed to be that. No wonder her clothes and her acting were such. Now, I understand. Wish I got that description before I saw the play.

Despite this confusion, I really enjoyed the banter of words between her and Charles Norton (Audie Gemora). One must watch the play to comprehend what I am trying to say!

Try to catch it the next time it is in town!

Earth Hour : Join tayo!

On 29 March 2008 the Philippines will join countries around the world as we literally "turn the lights out" for Earth Hour - an event that will fuel awareness on climate change and prove that when the people of the world work together, they can make a difference in the fight against global warming.

Earth Hour will take place throughout the Philippines from 8 to 9 in the evening on Saturday night, 29 March 2008. WWF invites you to participate by shutting off lights for 60 minutes, organizing your own "lights-out" event or by forwarding this mail to your friends, workmates and family.

Launched in Australia on the 31st of March 2007, Earth Hour moved 2.2 million people and 2100 businesses in Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour. This massive collective effort reduced the city's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour. With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

YOUR participation will go a long way in spreading the message that we, as individual droplets working collectively ? can create an impetus far more powerful than the mightiest of rivers. For more information, log on to the WWF Earth Hour page at: www.earthhour. org.

If you want to learn more about how else you can help make Earth Hour in the Philippines a success, reply to this email or drop us a line at (632) 920-7931, (632) 920-7923, or (632)920-7926

Pinay in action, Jesus in action

My interest was piqued when I heard from Ate Shawie three days ago about an upcoming marathon. She was encouraging me to join. I dilly-dallied for a few minutes. But the program title on the application form clinched my assent. "Pinay in action." A very inspiring theme.

I have learned to love my country and my citizenship. I was placed by God in a country besieged by hardships and challenges. Yet, I celebrate my being a Pinay (Filipina) for I am who I am today because of my country's history, heritage, people, language, etc. True, the world outside also helped shape the person within me but the very core of me is Filipino. I joined because I was excited to run for a theme celebrating who I am.

I am a Pinay in action. And proud to be one!

But something else made me run. I ran to celebrate the moving of Jesus in my life. I ran for the exhilaration of being able to run. I ran for I have two feet that can run.

It was ten years ago last January that metal rods were removed from my leg and replaced with a stark neon green cast. What was more significant was the announcement from my doctor that my bones were beginning to heal. And thus, the horrible threat that it would be severed was removed. Later on, the cast was replaced with a cane, then with protective boots. And always, always walking, never running.

Later on, I discovered the joy of going to the gym. And as the years went by, I slowly gained speed as I ran on a treadmill. From strolling, to a brisk walk, to a slow run. It would be too long and too complicated to complete the story, but the healing of my bone took longer than usual. It was only recently that the doctor confirmed that my leg bone is now fine.

Gingerly, I ran the 1.6k together with my two girlfriends (We ran with our wrists joined together by a garter). I was terrified of tripping over someone’s leg. I was afraid that a person might accidentally strike my “wounded” leg. But thank God for His protection. Praise God that I was able to freely run for the first time. I am grateful for the exhilaration of reaching the finish line.

It never crossed my mind when I finished my faith goal list last month that the first one I would be able to accomplish was the marathon I wrote. I have to remember that it is, in fact, a faith list.

And so I ran for I believe I am a Pinay in action. And more importantly, I ran for Jesus was and is in action in my life.