PAPILLON

It was a balmy night, dark and quiet.. My bare feet flew through the grassy field as I chased after that bright splash of color just ahead of me.. I had this pressing feeling of urgency not to lose that magical being that flits here and there as if looking for something .I lengthened my strides, keeping my eyes glued to it’s graceful movement, oblivious to anything but my desire to catch up with it. Suddenly, I saw it make a slow, graceful circle and alighted on something. I smiled delightedly, and with great anticipation, moved slowly towards the glowing patch of colors.

It was a butterfly! Its wings a wonderful symphony of pink, blue, yellow and green. with sprinklings of silver glitters all over them like fairy dust. I stretched out my hand to gently touch it. But just then, a strong gust of wind blew through the meadow, flattening my long white dress against my body and spilling my hair from its loose knot to tangle across my face. I swept the hair away from my eyes and peered at my butterfly again. It was gone! In its place stood a tall man, unmoving in his stance, his face hidden in the darkness. My heart almost stopped. I stared unblinkingly at his face, like someone in a trance. A slight movement broke the spell, and when I focused, I saw him holding his hand out to me, palm upwards. I slowly lift my trembling hand to him, and when he gripped my fingers protectively, I had a very strong feeling of homecoming. Strange! I tried to shake the feeling, and as I moved jerkily, I felt a sharp pain shoot through my head. I whirled around to check what caused it. A BEDSIDE TABLE????? I was in my bed, the sheets tangled around my legs and one of my pillows was on the floor.

PROUD TO BE PINAY!

If anything good came out of my enforced stay at my mom’s house in Sta. Cruz, it was the chance I had to renew old acquaintances and make new ones. It has given me a chance to see my friends again and look at what they have become over the years.

The first time I came here, I was a young woman. I made friends with the other young women here, attended weddings, went on excursions to the neighboring towns of Pagsanjan, Paete, and simply went gaga over the beautiful slippers and shoes in Liliw. We went swimming at Pagsanjan Lodge in December and made fun of the foreigners who shivered and had goose pimples all over their pale bodies because the water was extremely cold. We watched the procession in town during the holy week, attended the misa de gallo for nine days during the Christmas season and stuffed ourselves with bibingka and puto-bumbong after the mass. I am not a Roman Catholic, but a lot of my friends were, so it wasn’t the mass I came for, but the camaraderie and the fun we had together in walking to church, having breakfast on the sidewalk and shivering as the cold wind blew through the dark streets. Those were fun days.

Today, I have made new friends here, poor people with hearts of gold. You help them once, twice, and they fall all over themselves to do things for you. Some take advantage, but most are really good people.

But the thing that has really made a great impression in me is seeing my old friends again, watching them survive the many hardships typical to a lot of poor families in my country. I am amazed at the strength, resourcefulness and resiliency of the Filipino woman. And once again, I reiterate how much I admire the uniqueness of the Filipina.

Imagine bringing up a family on the meager amount a husband brings home. In this area where employment opportunity is almost nil, you take any job you can and you will be lucky to earn 200 to 300 pesos a day. Almost every time, no work means no pay. So, if you are lucky to work eight hours, seven days a week, you will earn an average of 9,000 a month. Not much considering the high price of consumer goods. How do they manage, these amazing friends of mine?

One of my friends has four children. They all go to school. Grade school and high school do not cost anything in terms of tuition if you go to a public school. So, that’s not a problem. But they have to take tricycle rides at a student rate of 6 pesos each, one way. With four children, they spend 48 pesos a day for fare. What about food? They eat rice and dried fish, or sardines for breakfast. That will last them until lunch, and then they will have to do with a light snack until they can go home around 5pm and eat something substantial. They are given 20 pesos each for that. Wow, so that’s another 80 pesos. That is already2,560 pesos for 20 school days. Father has to spend a few more pesos for fare and lunch when he goes to work. Add the cost of food for the family, utility bills for water, electricity and cooking fuel, emergency expenses when someone gets sick, or when a child has a school project, tithes and offering for church, and all the other expenses I have not thought about. Goodness, I really hate math. I can be a math wiz, but there’s no way I can make 9,000 pesos a month cover all those overhead expenses necessary for raising a family. Debit and credit will never tally. I just found out I hate accounting, too (sigh).

But, hey, look at my friend. She smiles all the time. She jokes around. She’s absolutely beautiful in the midst of all these hardships. I asked her if she never gets frustrated juggling her budget to make ends meet. And yes, I’m not a math wiz, but I’m not a moron either and I can do simple arithmetic. 9,000 a month??? Four children? I just have one college kid and a 78 year old mother, and I get 20,000 every 14 days. But I have to really be very careful with my budget or else I will overshoot it all the time. So what gives?????

I listened raptly to this amazing woman as she enumerated how she manages her household. First, she doesn’t use water from NAWASA. She has a water pump in her backyard. It’s this model that has a long pipe for a handle that you move up and down to get the water gushing up. Oh well, I don’t have much technical or mechanical vocabulary, but I’m hoping you get the idea. Aside from having an abundant supply of water, it’s free, so no water bill. And it keeps her arms strong and trim. Two birds in one shot. I’m impressed.

Second, she takes on any job to help her husband when the children are in school. Cooking for a neighbor, washing clothes, direct selling, you name it. There was even one time when she got paid to partner a cousin at a ballroom dancing competition. Whoa, supplementary income and a chance to socialize. Way to go, girl!

Third, she has taught her children to be careful with their electric consumption. Ironing all the clothes once a week, television for two hours after homework, wash hair at night and let dry naturally so no need to blow dry, always turn off the lights when no one is in the room, etc. She has a lot of cost-cutting tips.

Fourth, she has learned to be a creative cook. Since meat is expensive, vegetables and fish are usually the mainstay in their menu. Discovering how to cook them in an unusual and tasty way gives her a sense of accomplishment.

And then, she went on to say that she always tries to maintain a happy disposition. Life is really hard, and you only make it even worst by grousing. She has noticed that her children get affected by her moods, so as much as possible, she tries to maintain a cheerful façade in front of them. When she is in bed with her husband, that’s the time she talks about her day and listens to his. This, she says, makes their relationship, not exactly perfect, but more connected.

Last and most important of all, she and her husband have placed the Lord Jesus in the center of their marriage and family. With God being served in their household, they can overcome anything.

I consider my friend a really beautiful woman. Maybe you wouldn’t think so if you see her. If you are thinking beautiful as in Helen of Troy, the face that could launch a thousand ships, well, my friend’s face can’t even launch a paper boat. But as my mother likes to say, beauty is as beauty does. So, if you are a person with a deep perception of what is essential, then you would see the beauty I saw in her. The quiet, inner strength, the indisputable confidence that she is going about her daily business on the right track, the joy of fulfillment shining on her face… well, this is the kind of beauty that no amount of cosmetics can ever hope to achieve. She knows who she is and what she is. And she is focused on where she is going. My friend is the very epitome of womanhood. She lives up to God’s calling to be a helper to her man in the truest sense and I honor her with all respect and admiration.

Don’t you think she is a woman any husband will be proud of? Why indeed should a woman spend her days wearing the badge of defeat? There is no reason for her to feel and look defeated. A woman is only what she thinks she is. If she feels good about herself, she feels good about life. But if she thinks that there is nothing more that she can do to get over her circumstances, then she stays in the pits forever. It’s a reality that life today is hard. But one should look at herself honestly, evaluate what is lacking, think about what can be done and go for it. It’s a hard life we are facing, but giving up is not an option.

In the Philippines, a woman plays a major role in the household. The children look up to her for guidance, the husband for support. She is not only a nurturer but also a manager, an accountant, a nurse, a referee, a teacher, a cook, and every other role on demand. She is the pivotal character in the family unit and it is essential that she plays her role with utmost confidence. It is a hard, demanding job, being a mother and wife. It is a job that requires a good sense of balance, creativity, resourcefulness, and versatility. I’m sure the modern husband appreciates this lot. And yet, once upon a time, this was not so. A lot of people just took it for granted that when a woman marries, she stays at home and tends to the family and nothing more. She gets seen and not heard, decision-making is a male prerogative and she must vow to her husband’s superior intellect. In an eastern world such as mine where women have been stereotyped for centuries, I am awed at the way their spirits has withstood the battering and the incessant indoctrination that women are second-class citizens.

But life goes on, and changes are bound to happen, Circumstances and needs become different. Perspectives shift. Filipina wives have evolved from being just regular housewives to income-earning ones. Not everyone is employed by firms on a regular basis. A lot are self-employed so as not to neglect the care of their children. We hear of direct selling which can be done at one’s own schedule, networking, sari-sari store right in your own home, repacking, soap and candle-making and a lot of other income-generating projects that can be learned at centers courtesy of non-profit organizations. Along with training are offers of capital loan at very low interest with marketing assistance thrown in. Instead of despairing about the poverty, a lot of women in dire straits, economy-wise, have grasped this opportunity with enthusiasm. And they are succeeding!

Throughout the years, women, single and married both, have spread their wings and went on to accomplish great things. We have seen women rising and making their marks in their chosen fields. They have emerged like butterflies from chrysalides, and in the Philippines, the true “Pinay” has arrived. There are still instances in a male dominated field where she still gets insulted, bypassed, harassed. But seeing her fighting back and resisting getting dragged down by her circumstances is an inspiration. Seeing her succeed encourages other women to tap their own potentials. But an even greater achievement is to see her succeed in the workplace and bring the same kind of success in her own home as a wife and mother. She is playing a dual role, and has triumphed in both of them. The once timid Pinay has recognized and accepted her true role. This is the reason why I say that the new Filipina is unique in her recognition of her own strength and potentials. She doesn’t see it as a means to score against man or to declare herself superior. She has no need to compete in the battle of the sexes because she has come into her own, and having done so, she is fully comfortable and secure in being a woman and rejoice in the fact that she is different from a man. And because she is different from a man, she sees things differently, thinks differently and reacts differently. In other words, she complements man and this is exactly what makes her a great partner.

So, for the Pinoy who calls his wife his better half, truly, you have paid her a very great compliment. And for those other men who have accepted women as persons in their own rights who can achieve great things alongside them, you are indeed a rare breed. A new era has begun, where man and woman can forge a partnership based on each one’s Godly calling. No competition, no bids for superiority, but mutual respect and acceptance of each one’s capabilities. To see it happening in my country makes me feel good.

In spite of the mavericks who have given the Filipina a bad name, Pinay is still a unique, exceptional woman. She has indeed come a long way. And so, here I stand unwavering to say: “PROUD TO BE PINAY!”

MEMORIES

The rainy season has started with a big bang, taking along with it a couple of tropical storm. For a week now, the rain has continuously poured down on this god-forsaken place, keeping me inside the house alternately twiddling my thumbs or pounding on my computer keyboard.

Today is much the same. The only difference is I can see little boys from my window who are gleefully playing tag amidst the downpour. I smiled at the way they were totally absorbed with their game that they do not seem to feel the cold bite of the wind on their brown, naked bodies glistening with rainwater. I watched their little feet carelessly stomping on the rivulets of muddy water racing down the incline to lower grounds. Above the din of their screams and laughter, I couldn’t help remembering the way my brother and I used to do the same when we were kids. But that was before the advent of leptospirosis.

Ahh, what a day for memories. With nothing much to do and nowhere to go, what better way to spend the day than to look at the threads of my memories, good or bad, happy or sad, yet interweaving to create the tapestry of my life? I journeyed back to the carefree days of my youth, seeing my brother and myself enthusiastically living each day as if there was no tomorrow. Like these little boys, we’d manage to escape from my mom’s eagle eyes to play in the rain, staying out until our skin looks like raisins, all wrinkled from the cold. I hear our childish laughter echoing through the corridors of my mind, as if it was only yesterday. I see the coronet of bright-colored flowers sitting cockily on top of my head, and with my twin, black braids lying on my shoulders, I felt like an Indian princess. A wet princess. What fun we had. It was worth the spanking we got when my mom finally caught up with us.

I see us in high school, my brother the typical rebel, and myself, the model student. I kept covering up for his multitudes of sin. From two innocent children, we became conspirators. My parents never heard about how my brother threw an eraser at his nun instructor because she threw a piece of chalk at him. They never heard about how he would miss classes to go to the movies with his girlfriend. With my father a very strict disciplinarian, I don’t know how he would have dealt with the numerous offenses my brother has thought up to challenge the school authorities. It was up to me to talk and deal with the principal, to make up excuses that my parents were out of town or that my mother was sick and has delegated me to discuss my brother’s problems with the Dean of Discipline. With the way I have built up a reputation for being a hard-working and disciplined student, my integrity was never questioned, so I managed to get my brother out of the scrapes he got himself into. Thankfully, he outgrew this phase and turned into a responsible adult.

Adulthood has given both of us a different path to travel. We both went our own way to fashion a way of life that we thought would make us happy. He went to live in the west to be with his wife who is a westerner.
I stayed here in the east to live with my Australian husband. I lived a life that was riddled with both beautiful and tragic episodes, created memories, maintained old values, built new ones, met new people, saw new worlds. Through it all I can look back and not regret a thing, because for every decision I have made in the past, they were made because I thought and believed them to be right at that time. And the memories that the past has bequeathed to me? They will be mine to cherish, mine to take out from my treasure chest whenever I feel like traveling to the past. They will make me smile, shed a tear or two, but I will never regret having each one of them, for they have made me what I am today.

My brother, he too, must have created memories of his own. They will be his to look at on a rainy day such as this.

LITTLE MOUTH, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

One careless word, that’s all it takes to damage a relationship. I remember when I was young, my mom would warn me that I wasn’t to get into a fight if people tease. She said “stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. An old and tired saying, and not entirely true. Words are a wieldy weapon of destruction, as have been proven time and again. Physical wounds heal faster, and scars can be removed through the wonders of modern technology.

I believe anger to be such a useless emotion. It doesn’t really benefit anybody. But the way it controls people, blinding them to reason and goading them to do things they wouldn’t do in normal circumstances, is confounding. Most people express anger with the use of words that are designed to hurt. They do this at the height of their passion, and oftentimes, they regret what has been said but it’s too late. The damage is done, and the only thing left to do is to contain the damage to minimal.

Christianity is a way of life. It deals about relationships- relationship between man and God, relationship between man and man. And the Bible has many teachings and exhortations to make this as hassle-free as possible if only we will learn to heed it. But I’ve seen some relationships break down because of thoughtless and hurting words. Wounds to the emotions are slower to heal. They go deeper, and once in the system, it circulates its poison to cause maximum damage. Perhaps if one would only try to think before he speaks, to explain and to reason, not in anger but in a genuine desire to be understood, then strains on relationships will be avoided.

A friend of mine sent this text message to me and I think that it says my own sentiment so well:

“WORDS and HEARTS should be handled with care; for WORDS when spoken and HEARTS when broken are the hardest things to repair.”

LIPSTICK

Went shopping with my brother who is visiting from Canada. Shopping, what a waste of time. You spend so many hours walking in and out of stores while your wallet slowly empties itself out. I spotted a chair and sat down to rest my weary feet. I should have brought a book, but I didn't think of it, so I people-watched instead while the rest of my companions continued to shop.
After a while, I noticed this guy who was stealing glances at me, and that has got me worried. I stared at him and he looked away. I pretended to look elsewhere but continued to watch him from my peripheral vision. He was staring at me again. I looked him straight in the eyes and he blushed. Wow! Amazing! Probably thinking I have caught him anyway, he started sauntering in my direction. My heart started palpitating. He could be a holdupper, or a call boy, or any kind of undesirable that frequents the mall! Hmmm... do holduppers or call boys still blush? I put my right hand inside my shorts' pocket where I have my Swiss knife. You know, just in case I might need it. But before I could draw it out, he was right there in front of me. I brazened it out and tried to freeze him with a cold stare.
"Hey, you've been staring at me on and off for the last few minutes. You are pissing me off."
"I'm sorry", he replied in a high, thin voice. "I didn't mean to offend you, but I think you are wearing the loveliest shade of lipstick and I wanted to ask where you got it. I can't seem to find just that right shade of pink."
Oh, my gosh, it was all I could do not to break down laughing. He's gay!
Well, I didn't need a book after all. This guy, (or should I say gay) and I spent about half an hour of fun exchanging make-over tips , and yes, I gave him information on where to get the best selections of lipstick.
As we said goodbye, I can't help thinking that we shouldn't really judge a book by its cover.

A MAN OR A MOUSE?

Life is just so complicated. You want one thing but you get another. You plan for a certain project and something throws a spanner in the works. There's just nothing you can do except to be like a soldier- be prepared for all contingency. Plan ahead. Prepare a plan B or even a plan C. There’s no guaranty that your plans will come to fruition, but the main thing is you have given it your best shot. And after all is said and done, your respect for yourself will stand you in good steed. For the failure or the success of a certain enterprise is not the end. Life is an ongoing process until the time you have to face your Maker. And then, it’s an entirely different ball game altogether.

Meanwhile, this world is full of challenges. The manner by which you face them will determine the kind of person you are. A man or a mouse? Hmmm….

LIFE IS A BEACH, PART 2

My father had always been a bigger than life character for me. He was a strong man, responsible, a loving father, very protective of his family. He was also an adventurer, and would fearlessly pack up his family and business to God knows where for better opportunities.

I was a very young child when he thought that there was too much competition in Manila for his business, so he took us to Mindanao, to a tiny city in Lanao del Norte. Business will be good there, he said. And the wide spaces, fresh air and the slower pace of life will be good for his 5 children.

I was born in a city where all you can see are concrete roads and concrete buildings. We lived in an apartment above my father’s shop, and every morning, I will be hanging around there to watch people hurrying to their jobs. We lived in the business district, and the pavement in front of our shop was never empty of people, except at around 12:00 midnight when all business establishments have closed down for the night. I have gotten used to the noise of traffic and people coming and going, and became really people-oriented that I was never backward in welcoming my father’s clients to the shop.

Soon we left for Mindanao, which Papa and his buddies called the land of plenty. Being uprooted from my natural habitat (the concrete jungle), elicited a mixture of emotions, but the predominant one was a feeling of excitement, a sense of adventure. We landed in Mindanao, in a city next to our original destination, because the plane was diverted there because of some problems that I didn’t understand then. :) When we finally landed, my eyes almost popped out of their sockets. We were on a rented car and I can see mountains, and trees, and all kinds of greeneries along the roadside. The airport was located in an elevated stretch of land just outside the city, and the driver was driving slowly down the winding road so that we can see the sights. It was the first time I ever saw a coconut tree, and I was amazed at how tall they were. Everything was so green and I have never seen the sky so bright and blue.

What boggled my young mind the most was my first sight of the sea. We were half-way to the next city when on the next turn, the vista of a sparkling blue sea met my stunned eyes. Papa smiled in understanding and asked the driver to stop so that we children could stretch out our legs and have our first experience of the sea. We ran down to the beach to the sound of my mother’s admonitions to go slow and watch out for the sharp rocks.

If I close my eyes now, I can still picture in my mind that wonderful day. It was late afternoon. The sea was so blue, the sun was shining brightly and as rays of light shone on the surface of the water, the reflection looked like little, twinkling, rainbow-colored stars. The breeze was blowing gently and the water looked calm. I dreamily walked along the beach, my tiny feet sinking luxuriously into the warm, wet sand. Papa urged me to wade into the water, but I hesitated because this was a new element I wasn’t familiar with. The biggest body of water I have ever seen was a swimming pool. Papa patiently pointed out that nothing bad would happen because he was there to look out for me.

Gingerly, I tested the water with one foot.

“There, that wasn’t so bad, hmm?” Papa asked.

Encouraged, I waded knee-deep into the water and savored the feel of the gentle waves swishing around my legs. I laughed with sheer joy and Papa laughed back at me.

“Will I meet the Little Mermaid here?” I queried.

“I don’t think so, little one, but what I know for sure is that you will meet new friends, experience new things and have the adventure of your life. Is that good?” Papa replied.

I nodded and smiled. Soon Papa told us to go back to the car so that we can be on our way. It was getting late and we were still a few hours away from our new home. I looked back as we were leaving. I can see the gentle waves breaking into foam on the beach, and I imagined myself in another city with my new friends, with colorful pails and shovels, playing on the sand as the sun shines benevolently overhead while the sea serenely waits for me to make a closer acquaintance. Yes, the sea is going to be a lifelong friend. I nodded in satisfaction. Papa was right. This is my new world and I was on my way to the greatest adventure of a lifetime.

THE WEDDING GOWN

Leslie was sitting on the bed, reverently touching the lace bridal gown that was spread out before her. She lovingly traced the intricate beadwork that adorned the bodice, a sweet smile playing on her lips. Glen insisted that she had this gown made to her personal specifications and not to worry about the cost. He wants the best for his beautiful bride-to-be.

In three days, the wedding will take place. After a stormy six months of courtship, Leslie has finally agreed to marry Glen. Jane, Leslie’s sister is now very busy making preparations for the wedding, the highlight of which, aside from the wedding itself is the dance the night before.

The pre-wedding dance. She has almost forgotten about that. Leslie laughed softly. She could almost picture in her mind the way her relatives will compete with Glen’s to outdo each other for the money dance. The couple has a special dance when relatives of the pride will pin peso bills on the grooms clothes, and vise-versa. Of course it will be a contest of who is able to raise the greater amount of money. It is a matter of honor, and Leslie was sure Glen’s relative will never countenance losing face in this affair. Well, it will be a blessing and will help start off their married life. The money can be set aside for when they start building a house before the children come.

“Leslie, come out here. The florist wants to know if you are okay with the flower arrangements for the church...” that was Jane, her sister.

“Okay, I’ll be out in a sec. Just let me hang my wedding gown so it will not crease.”

“Hey, don’t ever try to try that on. Or something will happen to prevent the wedding.” Jane firmly said.

“I won’t, I promise!” People could be so superstitious, Leslie mused. Where do they get all these ideas? With a last look at the now hanging wedding gown, Leslie sauntered out of the room to talk with the florist.

The night of the dance came. Leslie sparkled. She was so beautiful in a long white dress shot with silver that hugged her body to perfection. Her hair was caught up in a knot on the top of her head, wispy tendrils caressing her flushed cheeks. Glen could barely take his eyes off her, this girl-woman that has captured his heart. With a sudden surge of tenderness, he caught her close to him, once again making a promise to himself that he will do everything humanly possible to make her happy.

At 12 midnight, Jane made the couple leave the dance so that they can rest and be fresh for their wedding day. Glen walked Leslie to the house. He didn’t want to let her go, this precious and beloved woman. But he must control himself, tomorrow; Leslie will be Mrs. Glen Sebastian Blanco. He smiled down at her sparkling eyes and bent slowly to give her a tender kiss full of promise.

“Tomorrow,” he promised.
“Tomorrow,” Leslie echoed.

Leslie was in a daze. Life is so beautiful, she thought. Somehow, she was able to hang the beautiful dress beside her wedding gown, and in fifteen minutes, she was ready for bed. As she passed the full length mirror, she saw her reflection and stopped to look for a moment. What she saw was a young woman whose rosy skin was still moist from her shower, her long black hair flowing in a shimmering mane down her back. Her face, scrubbed clean of all vestige of make up looks so innocent, like a school girl. She wrinkled her nose and blew a kiss at her reflection.

Leslie woke up with a start. She has this uncanny feeling that someone is in the darkened room with her. Her heart started beating a tattoo against her chest, her breath was coming in broken gasps. Unreasoning fear swept through her, rendering her body paralyzed. When a heavy weight settled on the bed by her side, she broke out from the stupor and tried to roll on the other side. But strong fingers grabbed her arm, and a hand covered her mouth. She stared up at the beady eyes gleaming with evil. Her mother’s fourth husband.

“NO! NOT AGAIN!” Leslie screamed silently.

The day of the wedding dawned bright and sunny. A good omen, Jane thought. But what is keeping Leslie in bed? She has to get ready or she will be late. With a cup of coffee on one hand, Jane knocked on Leslie’s door and waited for Leslie to answer. When she didn’t, Jane pushed the door open.

“Hey Les, get up, girl. You have to get ready. I brought you a cup of coffee to wake you up.”

As she neared the bed, she gave a laugh that was half amusement and half exasperation. Leslie was lying on the bed dressed in her wedding gown. She looked so young and beautiful.

“Hey, Les, get up or you will get that gown badly creased.” When Leslie didn’t move, Jane bent down to give her a shake. As she did so, her eyes fell on an empty bottle of sleeping pills. Jane’s heart started hammering. With a premonition that was bordering on panic, she took hold of Leslie’s ice cold wrist to feel for a pulse. Nothing. Jane’s fingers loosened on the coffee cup that she hasn’t noticed she was still clutching. If fell with a dull thud, the coffee spreading into an ever widening pool on the white carpet. She stared stupidly as the liquid slowly sipped into the carpet. Then she gave a shrill scream that resonated with grief and desolation.

LEAF

One day, I was sitting on a wooden bench under a chesa tree talking with my cousins. We were reminiscing about the good old days when a bottle of soft drink costs only 25 centavos instead of 10 pesos. Suddenly, a gust of strong wind blew, making the dust swirl around us. I started sneezing and my cousins laughed while one commented that I don't seem to have outgrown my allergies. I laughed with them and then stood up to go inside my house. As I did so, a dry, brown leaf fell right in front of my face. It hang right there, suspended in mid-air, turning and twirling as if challenging me to make a comment. I stood mesmerized for a moment, all sounds of laughter and chatter receding into the background. I raised my eyes and realized that the leaf hangs on a silken web shot with rainbow color as sunlight hits it at a certain angle. And amidst the inane jokes being thrown back and forth all around me, I fell into a profound pattern of thought regarding growing old and dying.

This leaf has served its purpose. It has produced chlorophyll to feed the tree. It has stood by its duty rain or shine. It has weathered all sorts of challenges- storms, insects, the hot sun, strong winds, children who shake the branches for beetles. And now, it hangs suspended, dry and brittle, waiting for the web to break and drop it to the ground. And then, it will just be another leaf to be swept and burned.

Human life runs along a parallel line. We are born; we mature and serve our purpose. We have children, we raise and nurture them, give them the best of what's in us. We experience trials and adversities, the storms of life buffet us. But we stand firm, our eyes and hearts focused on one thing - to see our children through.

And after our job is done, what is left? Do we just wait for the silken web of life to break? Do we allow ourselves to hang suspended until it is time for our earthly bodies to become fodder for the worms?

I have met many senior citizens who have expressed the sad sentiment of just waiting for death to come and claim them. Many have struggled against loneliness after their children have left to live their own lives. Some have lamented this notion that they have outlived their usefulness.

At this point in time the difference between a leaf and a human life should start. A leaf falls off from the tree and is nothing. But a person, whose youth and beauty may have faded, whose children must already have left the nest, who are in their 50's, 60's or even 70's - this is just your second wind to start a new adventure.

What is the average lifespan of man? 60? 65? If God has granted you life after that, He must have done so for a purpose. Your duty is to find that purpose and fulfill it.

Dear friends, there is no retirement from life. While there is breath left in your body, there is that chance to embark on some new adventure, to do some good and make a difference. Don't hang suspended like that leaf. Utilize the years you have left to make a mark, to do the things you have always wanted to do but never had the time or the opportunity. Today is yours. Take it.

And for those of us, who have reached mid life and are still in the middle of the race, let us remember that life for us has become shorter. Let us not live the same day twice. So that if today, we die, it wouldn't be with regrets that we could have done more with our lives.

Judges Chapters 19-21

I

The couple had a disagreement. The woman left her husband and went home to her father’s house, the husband came and made peace with his de facto wife and they traveled back home after 5 days. It was uncomfortable to travel in the heat, so the couple waited for the late afternoon to start out on their trip home. Naturally, night overtook them so they had to spend the night somewhere. There was no accommodation available and they decided to spend the night at the square where a kind stranger found them and offered his home, informing them that it was dangerous to be out at night in that neighborhood. The couple thankfully accepted the invitation and went home with the man, where they were offered refreshments and a place to sleep. They were in the middle of their meal, merrily eating and drinking when they were startled by someone pounding the door and demanding that the male visitor be brought out to them so that they may sodomize him. The man, the owner of the house pleaded to the outlaws not to harm his guests and offered them his virgin daughter and his guest’s wife. These depraved outlaws would not listen and surrounded the house, so the man grabbed his wife and shoved her outside the door. The men raped and abused her all night, only letting her go when morning came. She crawled to the door where she collapsed and lay unmoving. When her husband came out to find her so that they may continue with their trip home, she was already dead.

__________ @@@@@@@@@@__________


II

You could have been reading this in a newspaper. You read stories like this all the time. Just a while back, the same kind of wickedness hit the local headlines. A young woman was abducted by 2 men while she was on her way home from work. Her lifeless body was later found in a grassy slope in Bulacan with 17 stab wounds. She was sexually abused.

When I first read the above story with my daughter, she was so amazed that this kind of heinous crime was already happening as far back as the Old Testament times. She thought that this level of moral and sexual depravity is common only to this generation. I guess I have been lacking in explaining to her the extent by which men (and women) can act on their depravity and timeline has no bearing on this. But this is another lesson for another time.

The thrust I am aiming for in this selection is entirely different. This story was taken from the Book of Judges, chapters 19-21. The main story (summarized in the first part of this entry) can be found in chapter 19, which on the surface was the cause of the next series of atrocities that were committed by the 12 tribes of Israel, but a reason, much more serious than this becomes apparent in the next chapters. Please read on to the last chapter of this book, chapter 21.

A lot of parents will agree that at a certain age, kids begin having trouble dealing with authority. My daughter is seventeen, just learning to be independent and has this habit of turning from a sweet girl to an obnoxious know-it-all pseudo-adult from time to time. She wants to make decisions on her own, which is good, but she must also learn to submit herself to authority and listen to wise counsels from her elders.

III

The setting for this story is during a period when Israel had no king. Chaos was the order of the day, and with no restraining laws from a governing body, decency, justice, humanity and truth became meaningless. The people listened to no one but themselves and their desires. The man in our story divided the body of his dead wife into 12 pieces and sent one piece to each of the tribes and demanded to be avenged. The tribe of Benjamin fell to moral and sexual depravity to such an extent that the other tribes considered it a disgrace for all the rest of them. They demanded that the perpetrators be delivered to them so that justice can be served. The Benjamites refused, and the council decided to mount a war against the whole tribe because they considered that refusing to surrender the men meant that that they were condoning the crime and were in effect saying that they would have done the same thing.

The 11 tribes went to consult the Lord in Shiloh, but only to ask who will go against the Benjamites first, not to inquire if warring against each other is acceptable. They were on the side of justice and they felt it was okay to go to war against Benjamites. They have four hundred men as opposed to the 26,000 men of the Benjamin tribe. Superiority in number was another factor why they thought they would win.

The Israelites asked not for God’s counsel, but only for God to decide who will fight first against the Benjamites. They did not ask for God’s protection, trusting in their strength and the rightness of their cause to insure their victory. But God did not say they will conquer. Thousands of men have died before they thought to pray and fast and asked God to go before them. Victory came at last, and only 600 men were left of the tribe of Benjamin. But thousands also died from the side of the rest of the tribes.

The people of Israel wept and repented for what they had done. The quest for revenge has been satisfied and after it, the realization of what they had done.

The 11 tribes swore not to give their daughters to the Benjamites in marriage, but they felt sorry for them and to insure that the tribe does not get completely cut off, they slaughtered a whole city, including the beasts, leaving only their virgins to become wives for the Benjamites, and since there were not enough women there, they proceeded to abduct them somewhere else.

IV

We should be thankful that we have a government to oversee that there is law and order, and that people are protected and criminal acts restrained because there is punishment awaiting those who commit crimes. It doesn’t absolutely inhibit criminals but without it, the resulting anarchy will be too horrible to contemplate.

We should learn to submit ourselves to authority, knowing that God has mandated the existing governments today.

Young people should submit themselves to the authority of their parents, honoring and obeying them. This is the first commandment with a promise.

Children and adults alike should submit to the authority that God has put over them like school, workplace and church.

We should be ready to accept counsel from others. It is not possible to be right 100% of the time and consulting others is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of maturity.

It is right to fight for freedom, truth and justice. The Israelites did, and they were right. But they went overboard and committed a monstrosity that did not only equal but exceeded what they were fighting against in the first place. It’s ironic that we sometimes are so focused on what we think we are fighting for, not realizing that we are doing the very same things that we abhor against others.

These 3 chapters offer many other points by which we can still learn many things. I focused on the danger of man left to his own devices, without any sort of authority and no sense of accountability. I suggest you read the 3 chapters and see what you can still learn.

HOW MUCH VALUE DO I PUT ON GOD’S MASTERPIECE?

I haven’t paid much attention to this. Maybe I should be blaming myself for taking people at face value. Yes. It’s naïve, I know. In fact, I have been disappointed too many times with people I considered trustworthy that there was a time I looked at everyone with suspicion. But a person’s true character, molded and enhanced by years of practice will not remain passive for long. My trusting nature resurfaced after a while. And I was kind of relieved because suspecting everyone of having evil intentions can take out a lot from a person.

But sometimes, we do have to learn new lessons. Times are changing, and with it, spiritual and moral values. That man is deprived of the ability to do good from birth is a given. But some do try to rise up from that depravity, and there are those who try to do good, even if that goodness apart from God is still evil. Others may disagree with this premise, but with my Reformed background, I am fully convinced of what Romans 3 is talking about. That no one is righteous, all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. All are contaminated with original sin courtesy of Adam and Eve.

So why was I so stupid to trust that an unbeliever can do good and maintain it without buckling under the pressure of his flawed nature? Or why am I worst than stupid to think that a fellow believer can be trusted to uphold his or her faith and to witness for his Savior by doing good all the time? Have I not talk and written enough about the struggle of the flesh and the spirit? Have I not learned yet that we believing Christians are still in the process of being sanctified, not yet perfect and will only be made perfect when Jesus comes again? Have I not experienced enough crap from my very own church, from the very same people I worship with on Sundays, pray with on Wednesdays, study the scriptures on Saturdays, and go out on outreach programs with, on the other remaining days of the week? Doesn’t this prove that even the saints slip up every now and then?

Yes, I should have learned my lesson. Sometimes, my instinct works overtime and it’s yelling at me to stop, look and listen. But I look like a woman outside, made of flesh, bones and blood. But inside, I’m 100% marshmallow, too trusting. Yes, I deserve to be betrayed by the very person I have trusted so well, counted on to stand by me through thick and thin. We have prayed for each other, encouraged one another when we were feeling weak spiritually. I have trusted that person with my brokenness that has never stopped hurting for so many years. This is my most trusted friend we are talking about, and the shock and pain of betrayal was harder to handle. And if what I suspect is true, this person has betrayed me for the second time by underhandedly getting past my guard and once again playing me for the fool. So what do I do? Consider everyone to be bad until proven good? Ask for a police clearance and church recommendation when someone wants to make friends with me?

I would if it would work. But we all know man will have a way to work through the barricades, so to speak. Look at the Pharisees. They made so many laws in order to guard the original law. They created them like fences all around what was God’s original commandments. But did it prevent them or the people from sinning? It wasn’t a foolproof plan. All they did was to create more and more laws.

I should just continue to look at people the way I mean to go on. I will not put myself in a position where I will be out of tune with what God has called me to be. I have tried that for a while and I only made my own life harder. Man was created in the image of God, and He has breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. From creation to redemption, God has shown how much value He has put on man. He paid the highest price to effect reconciliation between Him and us, and that is the blood of His own Son, Jesus Christ. I will not knowingly devalue what God considers precious to Him. Some people may cause me pain, and I may unwittingly hurt someone. But there is still good to be found in everyone and I will just keep looking. Yes, you may call me a fool, for theologically, man is incapable of doing good, and when he is saved, he regains the ability to do good works for the glory of God but is still apt to stumble from time to time. But from a human point of view, one who is as flawed as the next one, looking through the eyes of Christ-like love may just do the trick. This will enable us to see what is good in everyone, for after all, they have been bought already by the blood of Christ and have increased in value. As for the unbeliever, who is to say he will remain an unbeliever? Maybe that person’s time to be called and saved is not yet.

Maybe the lesson to be learned here is to be more cautious and not suspicious, - more patient and understanding. After all, I have been blessed with many good friends that far outweigh the few rotten ones. So yes, fool or no fool, I will continue to regard everyone as good until they prove themselves wicked.



27 -So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)

7 -the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

REFLECTION

OTHERS ARE MERELY MIRRORS OF YOU...

You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.

LIVING IN THE LIGHT

18If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:18

I have heard many Christians say that they cannot understand how their own friends can suddenly turn against them, or that instead of being appreciated for the good things they do, they receive criticisms and ingratitude. Some went on to say that after they became Christians, they have experienced so many trials and tribulations.

Receiving the gift of salvation does not mean instant blessings in other areas of our lives. Christ did not say that life will be easy for us once we accept Him as our Savior. Once we follow in His footsteps, it is understandable that the world will hate us also. He himself experienced persecutions for bringing the truth into this world. His enemies saw him do nothing but good. They saw Him perform miracles, heal the sick, minister to the poor and preach the gospel of salvation. But because they hated Him, they falsely accused Him and sent Him to die in Calvary.

Living in obedience to our Lord will bring the same hatred into our lives. The world before Christ came is like a world without the sun. When the light of Christ came to shine on it, those who thrived in darkness were exposed and naturally, they resented that. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. The more we live our lives in obedience to the God of light and truth the more opposition we can expect from the forces of darkness. And as the world surely and steadfastly embraces a life of sin, the more it will hate anyone who lives a Christ-like life.

Having heeded the call of Christ, let us not feel down-hearted when we experience trials and persecutions. Getting criticized or being hated for living the faith in all obedience and sincerity should be taken as a sign that we are being more Christ-like in our attitude. And although we should not expect to be shielded from them, we can take courage from the provisions that Christ made for his followers before He ascended to heaven –He sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will enable us to continue to walk in the light until Christ comes again.

Let us continue to do good then and not let the opposition deflect us from our calling. We were called, not to be ministered upon but to minister to the needy. Be strong and take courage, for Christ will be with us, even unto the end of the world.

HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER

9He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10For Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother';[d] and, "He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'[e] 11But you say, "If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"--' (that is, a gift to God), 12then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

At what point does a person’s duty to his parents end? When he is grown up and can stand up on his own? When he finds a job and leaves the family home? Or when he gets married and builds his own family? God has always exhorted His people to be kind to the poor. If he can hand down commandments for the poor, isn’t a poor parent included in this? Some would claim that when the Bible says that “a man should cleave to his wife”, he stops being a son and starts being a husband. A pathetic excuse to cover up for the sin of ingratitude! And modern culture seems to endorse the practice that when a child is grown-up and self-reliant, he is free to go his merry way and not look back.

I have seen elderly people who are so poor ply the streets of Manila, begging for a little money from pedestrians and motorists, oblivious to the danger of being ran over. I have interviewed some of them, and they have sad stories to tell. I have asked an 83 year old woman why she was taking chances with her life in the middle of the traffic begging for alms, and if she didn’t have any family she can stay with. She said she has a son, a government employee, but he is married and earning just enough for his family. Why do we have this notion that we are only able to help if we have excess resources? “Is there no one else?” I asked. I have a daughter who is married to a doctor,” she replied. “But he is well-known in society and doesn’t want it known that he married someone from a poor family, so my daughter cut herself off from us.” She sounded so resigned, so accepting of her plight I couldn’t help feeling indignant on her behalf. “Do your children go to church?” I couldn’t help asking. “They do. They are devout Roman Catholics,” she proudly said. Wow. Probably give tithes, too, if they are that devout. But I didn’t say that aloud in case she gets offended. I handed her a 100 peso bill when the traffic light turned green. The delight on her face was a sight to see. But how long will 100 pesos last? Where will she sleep at night? Under the skyway, behind a giant concrete pillar? What if it rains? What if she gets sick? Who will take care of her? What if she gets run over by a car, or dies in her sleep? Will anyone mourn her? Will her body be buried with honor, or will it be sold to medical students to be studied in their anatomy class?

For those who have not deigned to look back where they came from, I leave you with this thought. You stopped being a son or daughter, and you have concentrated on being husband or a wife. If you are lucky, you will become a dad or a mom, too. Be careful. Our children learn by our example. You might just end up like that old woman on the street.

One great design of Christ's coming was, to set aside the ceremonial law; and to make way for this, he rejects the ceremonies men added to the law of God's making. Those clean hands and that pure heart which Christ bestows on his disciples, and requires of them, are very different from the outward and superstitious forms of Pharisees of every age. Jesus reproves them for rejecting the commandment of God. It is clear that it is the duty of children, if their parents are poor, to relieve them as far as they are able; and if children deserve to die that curse their parents, much more those that starve them. But if a man conformed to the traditions of the Pharisees, they found a device to free him from the claim of this duty. (Mk 7:14-23)

Matthew Henry’ Concise Commentary

A LONELY ROAD

If somebody had told me that being a Christian would take me along a lonely road at times, I would have laughed on his face. The day I was born again was the greatest, most triumphant moment in my life. Everything looked and felt new. I cannot explain the feeling, but I think I had this notion that being a new creature meant that everything was going to be nice and easy.

For a while it was. Until I had to make difficult choices that tested my faith to the limit. I had to leave some of my friends behind. I had to choose which things I can do and not do anymore. I had to make decisions that were not so popular with the people I love. I had to spend more time in church and less time with my friends.

When I started working, I had to put ambition to the back burner if it meant giving up the chance to go church on Sundays or any of my responsibilities as a volunteer Christian worker. The people in my social circle have dropped off one by one, they couldn't understand me anymore. I had to accept that having been reborn meant putting on a new nature, a nature that is not in keeping with the company I keep, or what I used to say and do. I had to entirely revise my way of thinking, and accept that things cannot remain as they are. If I have chosen to walk with God, I must choose to follow Him, no matter what the cost.

I have met new friends, prayed for my old ones, seen and heard that some of these old friends are now walking the same walk as I do and I have rejoiced. I have matured some in my faith and giving up something instead of compromising my beliefs is no longer a major issue for I have learned to see clearly where I want to go. I still walk a lonely walk sometimes, but realizing that my God walks along with me in my loneliness is a great comfort. For you only think you are alone, but in fact, you are not, for God will not forsake or leave you.

INTERCESSORS

Intercessors are very special people. They are men and women enlisted by God to pray for the saints, for the land, for the unsaved and for many other things. These are people who have the heart of God and who are not averse to walking along a lonely road and who are stubborn and persistent and will stay on their knees until they get an answer from Him.

There are many groups of people who have made interceding with God their life’s ministry. We can do it too. If we have a heart that is in tune with God’s will, if we believe that prayers can accomplish great things and if we are willing to spend time in communing with God to bring the needs of others to His throne, then we too, can be intercessors.

We do not want God’s wrath upon our land, let us pray then. Let us ask Him to give us the heart to repent and turn from our evil ways. There are love ones, family and friends who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, let us pray for them. Let us not give up, but let us pray without ceasing, petitioning God for the salvation of our lands and our people. For God is a merciful and faithful God and we can be a means for others to be saved through our prayers.


For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, (Romans 1:9 )

ENLARGING THE PLACE OF THY TENT

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; Isaiah 54:2

When God comes into our lives, we can expect really big changes that will require us to “enlarge our tent”. Our God is a living God, and we cannot continue to remain as we were before he called us. We cannot continue to exist in the narrow dimension that we have come to know and embrace. We have let Jesus into our lives and must be ready to make room for Him. We must be ready to welcome an entirely new way of life, and a brand-new role that we are about to play, that of a child of God.

When Jesus came to Paul in Damascus, He didn’t only stop him from killing Christians, but to bring him to Himself, and send him to do His will for the kingdom. It is the same for all of us who believe in Him. We were called to be blessed, and to become a blessing to others. We can expect joy and sorrow, triumph and defeat, but even more than that, we can experience the joy of being in fellowship with God.

Enlarging one’s tent does not only involve giving God a room in our lives, but to encompass everyone whom we can reach, people whose lives we can touch through love and compassion and the sharing of the Word of God. But we must also be sure to “strengthen the stakes” lest our tents topple down. And we can do this by immersing ourselves in His Word, and living in His will.

EFFECTIVE WITNESSING

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. I Corinthians 13:2

I have joined many bible study groups online, and I have quit about just as many. I can never understand how some people who profess to have the Christ in their hearts can use their lips to praise God one moment and lambast a fellow believer the next, all in defense of a doctrinal truth, or so they say.

In these groups, you will meet a lot of people with such great intellect you will be amazed at how much knowledge they have at their command. They are so ready to tear at anyone who will dare to come up with a topic that is in any way contrary to their own way of thinking.

But I really think that sharing the truth should be done in a kind and loving way for it to be effective. How come we say that we are Christians, but have forgotten that Jesus, who is the King of kings, came in humility to make his abode with us so He can fulfill the Scriptures and save us? Didn’t God exhibit such patience for His people in Israel who were known for their stubbornness? Hasn’t He been patient with our own foibles? Because no matter how much we know, it is a part of our walk of faith to fall along the way, for we are not yet glorified, and are still in the process of being sanctified. We should just be thankful that we cannot fall out of grace with God completely because He has also made provisions for our weaknesses. (1 John 1:8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

People are different from each other in intellect and temperament. They are also different in their quest for maturity as believers. Those who are rich in spiritual things must share them in love and compassion to those that are deficient. We should practice charity, not only with our material riches, but most especially with our spiritual riches. Those who are mature should gently guide those who are not. Besides, Christians are living epistles to the world at large. How can we become effective witnesses for Christ if we behave like unbelievers?

If we create conflict and chaos when discussing the Word of God, instead of leading and enlightening, what does that say about us? People won’t listen, until they know how much we care. A song says it really well, “… And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” And that’s the greatest way to witness, for didn’t God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)?

PERSPECTIVE

Jordanna and I were on our way to my mother's house for the weekend. We were already on board a jeepney when heavy rains started pouring. Jordanna was so upset because to get to her grandma's house, we have to pass through a vacant lot on a lower ground area. On rainy days, rainwater gathers in that particular place so that means we have to wade through ankle-deep muddy water where all sorts of garbage float around. As usual, Jordanna started grumbling about the possibility of contacting leptospirosis from rat excretion in the water. I was worried about it, too, but I had to try and cheer her up or we'll never get to my mother's. Waiting for the water to subside is not an option because if we do that, we are in for a long wait. We carefully picked our way across the flooded area, taking one cautious step after another so that we wouldn't slip on the muddy water. Finally, we got across with Jordanna's "yucks" and "arghs" resonating in my ears.

"Hey, stop for a while", I said. "Don't keep looking down at the ground, look up for a change and tell me what you see." The girl looked at me askance and with raised eyebrows asked, "Mom, are you in one of your strange moods again?" She started laughing then, and I almost pushed her into the flooded area. "Now, just do as I say or you don't get next week's allowance", I threatened. That got her attention alright. And instant obedience. Kids!

"Okay Mom, Let me see, now that it has stopped raining the sky once again looks bright blue and the sun is shining again.", she dutifully recited.

"What else? Look at the trees."

"Well, the leaves look fresh and green", she thoughtfully said. "They looked tired and dull last time we were here."

"That's right," I grinned at her. “After so many days without rain, they tend to look like that. The rain washed away the thick coatings of dust, bringing forth a new life to the plants and trees. Don't you feel that the atmosphere has turned cooler? Can you see the water drops on the leaves' surface sparkling like tiny jewels when the sun's rays touch them?" "Okay, Mom, give me the punch line", she challenged. "No punch line, honey. All I'm saying is that the way you go through life is just a matter of perspective. You were looking down and all you see was the ugliness of the mud puddles and garbage. You looked up and you saw the beauty of the sun, the sky and the trees. In this life, what you see is what you get. You look for what is bad and you will find it. Look for what is good, and it's right there waiting for you. Even the bible tells us this. So you might as well look for what is good and enjoy your journey here.

" 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phil. 4:8

HUMILITY

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.
Proverbs 22:4

One day, the trees in the forest were talking among themselves. The proud Narra tree said: " I have been in this forest for almost a hundred years, and I have stood tall and proud through all those years. I deserve to be called the king of the trees."

"Well, we can't dispute that. You were already here as I was growing up.", replied the acacia tree. "You may be king, but I should be the princess. Look at all these beautiful wild orchids clinging to my trunk and branches. Are they not ornaments worthy of a princess?"

"Very well," the Narra tree replied. "You are now the princess of the forest. How about you, Mahogany tree? What would you like to be?"

"Since my body is hard and strong, I would like to be the captain of the guards. Is that alright, King Narra?" the mahogany tree requested.

"A fitting position for someone of your stature. It should be as you wish.” the King magnanimously conceded.

"And how about me, Your Highness? What shall I be?” a timid voice asked from behind. The king turned around and looked straight at the bamboo diffidently standing before him. He started laughing so hard that the birds perched on his branches were startled and flew in every direction.

"What? You want a place in my kingdom? What foolish ambition. You're not even a tree. You are GRASS! Do you hear that? I don't have any place for you in my scheme of things. Now, quit bothering me.", the king admonished.

All the other trees laughed at the bamboo. They can't imagine how the bamboo had the nerve to think that he can be a part of such a distinguished company of the tall and proud trees of the forest.

Days later, a storm hit the area. Strong winds howled through the forest, thick sheets of rain made visibility impossible, thunders rolled and lightning bolts ripped the sky. The trees fought hard to survive the onslaught of the raging storm. The battle for survival went on all day and all through the night. The next morning, the sun shone brightly as if the storm has never been. But casualties lay around the forest floor, evidence of the fateful event. King Narra has tumbled to the ground, his massive trunk split in the middle by a lightning bolt. Not too far is Princess Acacia, her branches broken and the wild orchids lay scattered around her. Lamenting nearby is the proud Mahogany, leaning dangerously to one side, ready to topple any minute. He looked at the bamboo, still standing straight and tall.

"However did you survive?” he asked in genuine puzzlement.

The bamboo replied, "Very simple captain. I have learned when to bow and when to stand straight and true. I have humbled myself before a mightier force, and it has spared me."

Sometimes we are like the trees in the forest. We stand proud before God, refusing to acknowledge our dependence upon Him. We believe ourselves secure in our own capabilities to go through life with success, until trials and tribulations leave us humbled and broken. We should take a lesson from the humble bamboo. We should surrender our pride, our ambitions and our whole lives to God, because only in Him can we find true riches, honor and life.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4