seek God

The video below is too powerful not to share. Let this song be our prayer for the week in desiring to seek God more. Let us not be blind to the wonders that the Lord continues to perform in our lives daily.

Jesus said to the blind man he just healed:

..."Do you believe in the Son of man?" 

He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?"

Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you."

He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.

- John 9:35-38

Seek Him.

Be awed by His works.

Believe and respond to Him.

gift of today

It's unfortunate how sometimes we start the day flipping the switch for our routine the moment we open our eyes. That was almost the case for me today. Good thing I heard a line from this song in my bus ride to the office.

  Thank You for the gift of today!

P.S. I was not paid for posting the ad here. I wish. Credits to them, though, for the pleasant song and vocals.

P.P.S. Eating too much fast food is not healthy!

Are you alive?

Living out one's faith should not be isolated to just an aspect in one's life. Come to think of it, if it is isolated, it's not living out one's faith! (You can read more about a Christian living multiple lives in an essay on Filipinos and the seemingly split-level Christianity here. I'll probably tackle it in another post in the future.)

I'd like to make this point as I realize this applies to me very well. Many times before, I considered myself a Catholic, yet I did not attend mass - only when I needed to be saved from those F's on my Math and Operations Research exams. I professed I was a Christian, yet on some philosophical discussions with friends over a couple of beers, I would sometimes passingly conclude that in the end, as long as we do good, believing in the God or a god doesn't really matter. I would proudly declare that yes, I'm a Christian, yet I do not even participate in my parish or involve myself in communities that live and share my faith. The list can go on. Sometimes, even up to now I can still point out areas in my life which I see there might be some disconnect. The difference is that now I am more aware of what I should be doing and where I should be rooted. This awareness started when I committed myself to something greater than me. 

It is not what we say, what we proclaim, what we promise to do that matters in life.

It is what we value that dictates the decisions we make in life. 

- from a priest's homily in the Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace

This is probably one question every person has to answer before he can truly say that he is living out his life - What am I committed to do in my life here on earth? This may be similar to questions of finding out your purpose in life or finding out your core values. I suggest answering the question, however, as it answers not only the truths and values one holds, but also the work and actions living out those values entail. Most importantly, the question leads to an answer which highlights the engagement of the whole being to see that those values and actions are being fulfilled as declared. Without action, one is not alive. Without that radical decision to act, one becomes confused and is all over the place in "living" out one's life. 

Writing this post is a refreshing reminder of why I started this blog. This may not be my permanent medium, but for now, this will have to do in my commitment to encourage others to take up the act of love as how Christ took up His cross. 

coming before Him

I used to think that prayer was like leaving God a voice message over the phone. When I was a kid, there was a time when I struggled to think about how God could listen to each and every prayer being said and answer them accordingly. I could recall how it was in a movie where Jim Carrey's character, assuming God's role for a certain period, strained to organize all prayer requests and even thought of doing it through e-mail!

Now, I am just amazed at the mystery of how God works in our lives. He dwells in us (1 Cor 3:16). He is in the innermost part of our beings and we need only to come before Him as we are. I realized this tonight as I was struggling to center myself in prayer. I remembered how a spiritual director of mine taught me to be real with myself by knowing how and where I was before I came into prayer - how was I feeling emotionally, physically, mentally? This was what I did and I recognized how I was physically exhausted coming from weeks jam-packed with activities during and outside of work. It made me realize a lot of things, one of which was how God sustained me throughout the weeks, and this helped me to get myself into prayer.

Sometimes we focus too much on talking to Him instead of being with Him. God is with us when we talk to Him. He prays with us if we allow Him to. Praying with Him can only happen when we recognize not only His presence but also ours, and  recognizing our presence means being aware of where we are at the moment, how we are feeling and knowing whatever baggage we are carrying.

Prayer is a conversation with God.

Ang buhay natin ay parang bahay na naka-lock - nabubuksan lamang mula sa loob. Si Hesus ay nasa labas, naghihintay. Nasa atin na ang pagbubukas ng pinto upang Siya'y makapasok nang lubusan.

(Life is like a house locked from the inside. Jesus is at the door, just waiting. It is up to us to open the door and welcome Him so that He may go inside.)

- Fr. Allan, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish

constants

*insert quotes and cliches on change here*

There are only a few constants in this world: God, family, and change, among a few others.
Today, I'm sincerely grateful for the second one in the list.

Rexxie, Cynthia, Rey, Reggie

Ginikanan

It's refreshing to overhear people walking along the streets speaking in Cebuano! I was in my hometown for a few days to be with my parents a couple of weeks ago and for me, it's one of the things I really miss. Aside from that, it's hearing people sing Cebuano songs and most especially hearing mass spoken in Cebuano, especially the Gospel (and believe me when I say that I don't even understand some of the words)!

A reading for a day during that vacation was about the fall of man - of how Adam took a bite from the forbidden fruit and hence the separation of man from God's grace came about. What struck me was how the minister shared and discussed the passage talking about the original sin and how it came from our kin, our ancestor; the Cebuano word she used was ginikanan. I did a bit of researching and found this online:

Parent - Latin parentem (nominative parens) "father or mother, ancestor," noun use of present participle of parere "bring forth, give birth to, produce," -etymonline.com

The reason why I had to look this up was because the word ginikanan reverberated in my head. In Cebuano, we call our relatives ginikanan, not just our parents; also, we use the same word to mean the source of, or where something came from. (Example: Gikan ko sa balay. I came from the house.)

The use of the word ginikan in the sermon that day, given its definition and usage in the language, led me to realize how we are never to look at ourselves as the center of everything. The word reminded me of how I am connected by blood to my sibling and even my relatives coming from an ancestor from way back. Kauban sa atong mga igsoon, amahan, inahan ug mga kaparentehan, usa ra atong ginikanan. In theology, we look at our separation from God in the fall of Adam as the also the fall of man. Didto sa atong ginikanan kita natipas sa atong Ginoo. Most importantly, we turn to the one true Source of everything, recognizing our oneness in spirit with all the other souls in this earth and even with all creation. Usa ra ang Ginikanan sa tanan. 

I look into myself searching for answers to my questions. 

I look at others and realize I am not the only one looking for answers. 

I look up and I see the Answer we're looking for all along.

truthful Tuesdays

I figured since I already started Thankful Thursdays, why not do the same thing for another day? So here it is. Truthful Tuesdays!

It is but fitting that I set up this day not just to remind myself of the truths of my faith but also so that I may share with you, dear reader, the wonderful things about the Person I follow.

Entrance door of the Manila Cathedral

I was just led to a realization last week when I read Mt 7:7-12. In this passage, Jesus tells His disciples to ask, seek and knock and we will have our answer. How wonderful it is to have an assurance that God will never leave us hanging! However, I was further led to ask myself, "Is it also the case with me?" 

God answers us when we seek Him. Do we respond to Him when He seeks us? 

the inner room

We have plenty of those moments when we just want to get away from the busyness of life, go into a room and lock ourselves in. We just want to be in that faraway island or in that sanctuary where we can find peace away from all distractions. It is where we can just be with ourselves. If only we can. The thing is, we can; we can, if we choose to.

Personally, I found this very hard to do.  For a long time I've always wanted to carve out time to just be alone and reflect on things. It is in my prayer time that I find the comfort and peace amid all the pressure and busyness of life and I've always struggled to establish that sacred time to be with the Lord. At times, I still struggle.

Recently in one of my walks to the office, I was stopped dead in my tracks by something and was compelled to share it with friends in Facebook.

"We need not climb mountains nor swim the depths of the seas to appreciate the beauty nature has to offer.
Sometimes we just have to go to work!"

Sometimes we struggle too much to get away from our busy lives and 'escape reality' for a bit that we fail to remember that it is in the middle of all of it that we can find our peace. I was reminded of just that when I saw this flower that I just passed by and ignored daily for months! Yes, we deserve and need those out-of-town long vacations, but it is also in moments such as the one I experienced above that I believe we are refreshed and reconnected with ourselves. It is in these moments that we are sustained daily.

But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. (Mt 6:6)

In the passage above, Jesus reminds us to pray in spirit and in truth to our Father. It is in the inner room, into our innermost being that we can connect and be with Him. We can do this not just by physically isolating ourselves from the world but also by just being in the world.

thankful Thursdays

This is not a new movement. This occurred to me a while back and I realized it was impossible if nobody else thought about it. True enough, if you search online, Thursday is not only becoming a day when people uncover the wackiest throwback pictures from the past but also a day when they flesh out the wonderful things that are happening in the present.

It's hard enough to go over an ordinary day and find the good things one is thankful for, what more on a day riddled with stress, struggles or emptiness. Nevertheless, I hope starting this series of posts will get me to continue to find God and His goodness in everything in every moment of every day.

I am thankful I woke up on time despite my recent difficulty to sleep earlier at night.
I am thankful for safe trips to and from work.
I am thankful to have had a productive mindset at work today given my lack of nourishment and sleep.
I am thankful that my current workplace has a chapel that celebrates mass daily where I can receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
I am thankful for His assurance that He is with us and that He answers our pleas.
I am thankful that the office hours at work allot break times in the morning and afternoon which gave me windows to get some shut-eye and recover a bit earlier today.
I am thankful for jolly colleagues that kept me alive throughout the day.
I am thankful for a stress-free day that gave me the opportunity to go home early to get some rest.
I am thankful for a heart that is open and honest to feelings of regret and frustration amid personal challenges.
I am thankful for a generous brother, a caring and patient father, and a brave and strong mother.
I am thankful for a strong relationship within my family despite the distance among us.
I am thankful for the time spent with Him today to just listen and thank Him for His wonderful gifts.

I end today with a grateful heart. I hope you will too. What are you thankful for today? 

"There is always something to pray about...Until you die, you always have a past 24 hours..." - Dennis Hamm, SJ

gem of a book

Before I officially became part of the 'working class,' I had plenty of time on my hands. Of course, I buried myself in books. Depending on my family for a meager allowance, I rummaged through used books from local bookshops and just picked up anything that I thought looked interesting. I read anything from literature classics, programming in MS Access for dummies, to even obscure books on the music duo Simon & Garfunkel. My key criterion: anything below a hundred.

I would be amazed at the number of books I can bring home after a week's worth of savings from my measly allowance! There were lemons, no doubt. These were the ones I usually force myself to read for a couple of days, convincing myself that the peso-to-book page ratio was worth it. There are gems as well. There's this sense of accomplishment after reading a used book bought at a very cheap price that unexpectedly ends up putting a sense of direction in your life. I picked up a couple of these books.

One of those gems got me interested just by looking at the cover page. I bought it in a heartbeat when I opened it and saw the flyleaf.

Seizing Your Divine Moment: Dare to Live a Life of Adventure

#YOLO

The word may be so-two-years-ago late but I just couldn't help it! I will not anymore attempt to describe and define the "battle cry of a generation," as a song says. It would be overkill; just look up all the materials online. Here are a few things, however, that were complemented by the 'wisdom' behind the word, in a different sense: 

1. We are meant for eternity. As a believer and follower of Christ, I hold fast to the truth that we are souls with bodies and not the other way around. We will die in the physical sense, but we will still live on and this is when we hope to see Him who made us. We only live once, but this life does not end with death for death was conquered.
2. The choice is ours. The kind of life we choose to lead now will have consequences that determine our future. Yes, there are consequences (as opposed to having none if our lives ended with death) and the consequences are real. We live only once and the kind of life we choose to follow will determine where we will be in the future - in the kingdom of light or in the kingdom of darkness. 
3. We have to take the leap. There is a trap we should be wary of, as Kierkegaard raised, when we spend too much time just thinking and defining our faith. As in the parable of the separation of goats and sheep (Mt 25:31-46), we are reminded that in the end, we are accountable not only for our wrongdoings, but also for the good we fail to do. With our faith and the Truth we accept, there has to be a sense of urgency and we have to take action. This aspect we can strongly borrow from YOLO where we should be compelled to throw ourselves and risk everything to tread the path we have chosen - hopefully the path of love!

choose joy

Today, we are bombarded everywhere with endless lists of n things to do before turning n, various books on how to pursue happiness and  many #activities and #movements to help us savor the moment and live a life of happiness. These just highlight the craving of our human soul to find happiness in this modern and technology-driven life.

One can indeed find happiness by appreciating the simple things - the yellow flower that stops you in your tracks while walking along a busy metropolitan street, the cheerful "Good morning," of a cab driver at three in the morning coming from work or the hot cup of coffee with your bread, toast and bacon at breakfast. There is, however, a much more filling happiness beyond just a heightened awareness and conscious appreciation of the things around us.

I myself have subscribed to various self-help materials on this topic. Ranging from learning how money actually buys happiness to the lessons positive psychology offers even by just simply listing things you are grateful for, one can never run out of articles to read after looking up happiness online. But I'll let you in on something, if you want to find happiness and joy, stop thinking of creative ways to entertain and make yourself happy. Serve others.

If you're one of those working for social enterprises, do the best at your work knowing it is for the benefit of your partner communities. If your work is in corporate finance, be excellent at it knowing it is for the organization's cause. If you don't like your work, do it anyway; if not for the compensation, for your team or for the clients your company serves. If that's not going to happen for you at work, make time and serve at a local shelter for the aged on weekends. If your schedule doesn't permit it, maybe you can buy an extra bottle of water at the cafeteria during snack time for the beggar you always pass by when you go out of the office after work. Why not lend your colleague a hand at work or share a smile when someone's having a bad day? Care to give your bus seat to the lady nursing a baby in her arms? When you get home, why not cook dinner for your mom and while you're at it, wash the dishes after? I think you get the drift.

Many people are daunted when service is mentioned. Service is simply doing what we are capable of in whatever situation we are in to help out another person - however simple that may be.

Happiness is not simply something that "happens" in our life and that we only need to be aware and attentive to it. It is also a result of actions we choose to do. The moment we choose to make others happy is the moment we love and give them the respect that they deserve. The moment we do this is the moment we are filled with joy.

"Joy is not a selfish thing to seek, but a selfless thing to find." - Fr. J. Martin, SJ

#joy

I found in my old room a book that was sticking out at the top of my bookshelf with its brightly-colored cover. It was the one that sparked my interest to rediscover my faith and embark on my spiritual journey last year. I snatched it, leafed through the pages and found plenty of highlighted lines and bookmarked pages but what caught my eye was a note I made at the bottom of a page.

I remember jotting down the note as a summary of the previous chapter of the book, an insight that I was so amazed I pieced up. At that time, it may have been just that: a summary, a scribble, a note to self. Now, after the many things that has happened since I picked up that book, I can attest with all confidence the value that is revealed in that line.

Many of us seek happiness, but it is joy - happiness in God, that we truly long for.

Sunset at Mt. Gulugod Baboy with Lingkod Manila

Not so fast!

Earlier today, I came to ask myself why I committed to start this blog - yes, on just day two! I put into question not only the intention of this blog, but all of the commitments I listed and declared to do for this Lenten season.

Did I seek Him in setting up my plans?
Did I make a decent effort to listen to His plans and put them before mine?
Are my Lenten commitments really intended for Him and not for my personal interest and gain?

In my eagerness to prepare my list of things to give up and to do, I seem to have fallen short in truly seeking His will for me. But guess what, I know that it is only because of Him that we are led to self-awareness and realizations like this one! For that, we should be grateful. With that, we correct ourselves and strive to be better.

Today was a reminder for me to return and keep close to Him, to tear out my heart and not my garments (Jl 2:13), to focus not on the things I've listed but to the essential reason why I listed them anyway.

I started this blog as a commitment to not only document my reflections on this wonderful and grace-filled season of Lent, but also to invite you, dear reader, to share with me this adventure for the next 40 days. It is my hope that we continue to seek Him and Him alone.

beyond the checklist

More than just skipping meals, eating fish on Fridays, giving up Facebook or doing charity work, at the heart of all our personal commitments is and should be an effort to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with God (Mic 6:8) - a walk beyond just the 40 days.