i was browsing through the racks of a clothing store one day when my eyes fell upon a cute top. i liked the color and the design.. it didn’t cost much.. and it fit me quite well. upon closer inspection, though, i was dismayed to find a small tear in the fabric of the shirt. hmm. so i asked the saleslady to get me another one from their stock. unfortunately, she said that’s the *last* one. uh oh.
i knew the shirt was defective. i knew it wasn’t the perfect buy i thought it was at first. but i really, really, really wanted it!!! so i looked the other way and bought it anyway. and as soon as i got home, i tried to patch up the tear. but since i’m not so good with needle and thread, i wasn’t able to fix it as well as i wanted to. *sigh*
then a few days after, i saw that same exact shirt on the rack.. in another branch of the said store!! auuuuggh!! now, everytime i see my shirt, i want to pound myself on the head for my impatience and lack of self-control :(
right now, bro bo sanchez’ words of wisdom come to mind:
the enemy of the best is not the bad. the enemy of the best is the good.
he says that oftentimes, we don’t *discern* between right and wrong. when we ask God for help in making our decisions, we don’t present Him with one righteous and one sinful option. we choose between two right choices - it’s only a matter of deciding which is actually *best* for us.
but sometimes, in our haste, we take things into our own hands. we make decisions without bothering to consult the Lord. and we end up with something *good*.. something that’s “pwede na”.. when what He really wanted to give us was the *best* that’s why it takes a lot of patience, as well as “tuning in” to God, in order to make sure we’re getting the best that He has to offer to us.
life presents us with so many options: career choices, job opportunities, communities to join, relationships to build. the variety of choices can be daunting. but with the Lord’s guidance and grace, we can be confident that we will receive what He best intends for us :)
and though we may be stuck with a torn shirt or two in our lifetime, we can rest assured that He will eventually provide us with the one He’s “custom made” for us. no holes. no tears. no defects. the perfect fit :)
let’s wait on the Lord to point out to us His best blessings, shall we? :)
Monday, June 25, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
just a few inches
“the majority of lost objects are right where you figure-once you take a moment to stop and figure..." -prof. solomon
i was listening to a christian radio program last week - and the topic was “how to find lost objects.” which kinda surprised me.. ‘coz what does *that* have to do with the Bible, huh?! anyway. that’s where i first heard of the “eureka zone.”
according to prof. solomon, majority of the objects we misplace are actually found right where we lost them. or at least, they are found no more than 18 inches from their original locaiton. this region is what he calls the eureka zone.
it’s been shown that most of the time, the object we are looking for is actually right in front of our eyes. but it’s rendered “invisible” to us because (1) we’re too busy looking elsewhere; (2) our eyes are not focused on the object; or (3) we’ve forgotten exactly what the object looked like.
kinda like what happens with me and the Lord. sometimes, i’d feel lonely or sad.. and i’d long for His presence. i’d feel like i’d lost Him.. and i’d go searching for Him in all sorts of weird places (doing weird things along the way, too!). sometimes i’d get too busy in my search. other times i’d get distracted (by people, by work, and yes, even by service). and after a while, i’d just realize that i’d forgotten what (or rather, WHO) got me searching in the first place.
as members of this community, i’m quite sure we’ve all conducted our own search for the missing/silent/lost God. we all know what it’s like to thirst for His presence and His love. it’s probably what brought us here to rivers, in the first place.
but we also know by now that it’s not really the Lord who’s missing/lost. we’re the ones who got lost. yet, no matter how far we may have wandered from Him, when we seek Him, we will find Him. He will always be in our eureka zone. no more than a couple of inches from where we stand ü
and we also know that even if we tire in our search for Him, He will never tire in His search for us. we are never away from His thoughts.. because we are always in His heart ü
“i once was lost but now am found.. was blind but now i see..”
lost and found. ‘tis truly amazing to find the Lord.. and to be found by Him ü
i was listening to a christian radio program last week - and the topic was “how to find lost objects.” which kinda surprised me.. ‘coz what does *that* have to do with the Bible, huh?! anyway. that’s where i first heard of the “eureka zone.”
according to prof. solomon, majority of the objects we misplace are actually found right where we lost them. or at least, they are found no more than 18 inches from their original locaiton. this region is what he calls the eureka zone.
it’s been shown that most of the time, the object we are looking for is actually right in front of our eyes. but it’s rendered “invisible” to us because (1) we’re too busy looking elsewhere; (2) our eyes are not focused on the object; or (3) we’ve forgotten exactly what the object looked like.
kinda like what happens with me and the Lord. sometimes, i’d feel lonely or sad.. and i’d long for His presence. i’d feel like i’d lost Him.. and i’d go searching for Him in all sorts of weird places (doing weird things along the way, too!). sometimes i’d get too busy in my search. other times i’d get distracted (by people, by work, and yes, even by service). and after a while, i’d just realize that i’d forgotten what (or rather, WHO) got me searching in the first place.
as members of this community, i’m quite sure we’ve all conducted our own search for the missing/silent/lost God. we all know what it’s like to thirst for His presence and His love. it’s probably what brought us here to rivers, in the first place.
but we also know by now that it’s not really the Lord who’s missing/lost. we’re the ones who got lost. yet, no matter how far we may have wandered from Him, when we seek Him, we will find Him. He will always be in our eureka zone. no more than a couple of inches from where we stand ü
and we also know that even if we tire in our search for Him, He will never tire in His search for us. we are never away from His thoughts.. because we are always in His heart ü
“i once was lost but now am found.. was blind but now i see..”
lost and found. ‘tis truly amazing to find the Lord.. and to be found by Him ü
Monday, June 11, 2007
the shoes of a superhero
there is probably no more terrible instant of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man--with human flesh.
- frank herbert (dune)
most people think their fathers are heroes. oh, you know.. the kind of guy with lofty ideals.. who stood by his principles.. whose life is a source of inspiration to everybody. and that’s fine.
but i don’t think of my dad as a hero.
i mean, yeah.. my dad is a man of integrity and character. he lives by his principles and he’s certainly an inspiration to a lot of people. i doubt that anybody who knows him would question that.
but to me, he’s so much more than that “high and mighty” heroic figure. my dad has that alter-ego too.. just like those superheroes i get to read about in comic books ü
because though dad could engage you in a very gripping conversation about God, life, religion and service, he’s definitely not someone you would describe as “stern” or “serious.” ü
ask the kids - they’d tell you! i get the feeling they already suspect the truth. i believe they already know that.. yes.. my dad is a superhero! ü his “superpowers” are numerous.. and they include (to name a few):
* charisma. young. old. rich. poor. wise. simpleton. it seems like all kinds of people are drawn to dad. and he’s so genuinely drawn to them as well!
* brainpower. not a lot of people know this, but my dad graduated with a degree in engineering. but nowadays, he’s having lots of fun as a computer whiz. he’s also great at being a techie - giving sound advice on electronic gadgets (PDAs, celphones, etc), a mechanic, electrician, handyman, etc. oh.. and he also served as my math/science tutor in my elem/highschool days.. and i think i turned out fairly okay hehe :p
* super-speed. in the morning, before i’m even able to rub the sleep from my eyes, my dad’s already cooked breakfast, set the table, fed the fish, watered the plants/washed the car, arranged my mom’s medicine and prepared my ‘baon’ (complete with a note!) all that in under an hour! whew! :p
* special ESP. you know how people always talk about “mother’s intuition?” well, my dad has “father’s intuition” ü he always seems to know when i’m troubled, depressed or in need. i don’t have to say anything.. he’s just *know.* and then, to make everything all better, he uses his...
* healing powers. whether it’s a headache, tummyache, backache or heartache.. dad always seems to be able to make the pain go away. through his therapeutic massage and his calming words, dad has the wonderful ability to make everything a-ok ü
as a kid, i always thought my dad could do *anything* - i probably wouldn’t have been surprised if someone told me dad could fly ü it’s cool.. having the kind of father your friends wish they had. it’s also cool to have a dad who “grew up” along with you.. who stood by you as your interests shifted from toys to books to guys (then back to books and toys, hahaha!). having the kind of father that i have certainly ROCKS.
now, as a grownup, i know my dad could not do everything. (well, at least i know he couldn’t fly, hehe). but still, i’d have to say that having him for a dad still ROCKS ü i’ve been gifted with the best dad i could ever ask for.
well, the best *human* dad i could ask for, that is ü
and when times comes for me to become a parent, i know i’m going to have very large shoes to fill. i may have the genes.. but, as we see in the comics, children of superheroes do not always inherit their powers, haha.
but though my dad’s superhero shoes are large, thankfully, they’re light. because they’re worn by someone whose heart is buoyed with love.. just as my Heavenly Father’s heart is filled with great love for me ü
and who knows, maybe someday, with His help, i’ll be the kind of “superparent” i’ve always seen my dad to be ü
- frank herbert (dune)
most people think their fathers are heroes. oh, you know.. the kind of guy with lofty ideals.. who stood by his principles.. whose life is a source of inspiration to everybody. and that’s fine.
but i don’t think of my dad as a hero.
i mean, yeah.. my dad is a man of integrity and character. he lives by his principles and he’s certainly an inspiration to a lot of people. i doubt that anybody who knows him would question that.
but to me, he’s so much more than that “high and mighty” heroic figure. my dad has that alter-ego too.. just like those superheroes i get to read about in comic books ü
because though dad could engage you in a very gripping conversation about God, life, religion and service, he’s definitely not someone you would describe as “stern” or “serious.” ü
ask the kids - they’d tell you! i get the feeling they already suspect the truth. i believe they already know that.. yes.. my dad is a superhero! ü his “superpowers” are numerous.. and they include (to name a few):
* charisma. young. old. rich. poor. wise. simpleton. it seems like all kinds of people are drawn to dad. and he’s so genuinely drawn to them as well!
* brainpower. not a lot of people know this, but my dad graduated with a degree in engineering. but nowadays, he’s having lots of fun as a computer whiz. he’s also great at being a techie - giving sound advice on electronic gadgets (PDAs, celphones, etc), a mechanic, electrician, handyman, etc. oh.. and he also served as my math/science tutor in my elem/highschool days.. and i think i turned out fairly okay hehe :p
* super-speed. in the morning, before i’m even able to rub the sleep from my eyes, my dad’s already cooked breakfast, set the table, fed the fish, watered the plants/washed the car, arranged my mom’s medicine and prepared my ‘baon’ (complete with a note!) all that in under an hour! whew! :p
* special ESP. you know how people always talk about “mother’s intuition?” well, my dad has “father’s intuition” ü he always seems to know when i’m troubled, depressed or in need. i don’t have to say anything.. he’s just *know.* and then, to make everything all better, he uses his...
* healing powers. whether it’s a headache, tummyache, backache or heartache.. dad always seems to be able to make the pain go away. through his therapeutic massage and his calming words, dad has the wonderful ability to make everything a-ok ü
as a kid, i always thought my dad could do *anything* - i probably wouldn’t have been surprised if someone told me dad could fly ü it’s cool.. having the kind of father your friends wish they had. it’s also cool to have a dad who “grew up” along with you.. who stood by you as your interests shifted from toys to books to guys (then back to books and toys, hahaha!). having the kind of father that i have certainly ROCKS.
now, as a grownup, i know my dad could not do everything. (well, at least i know he couldn’t fly, hehe). but still, i’d have to say that having him for a dad still ROCKS ü i’ve been gifted with the best dad i could ever ask for.
well, the best *human* dad i could ask for, that is ü
and when times comes for me to become a parent, i know i’m going to have very large shoes to fill. i may have the genes.. but, as we see in the comics, children of superheroes do not always inherit their powers, haha.
but though my dad’s superhero shoes are large, thankfully, they’re light. because they’re worn by someone whose heart is buoyed with love.. just as my Heavenly Father’s heart is filled with great love for me ü
and who knows, maybe someday, with His help, i’ll be the kind of “superparent” i’ve always seen my dad to be ü
Monday, June 4, 2007
beautifully scarred
Do not believe that he who seeks to comfort you lives untroubled among the simple and quiet words that sometimes do you good. His life has much difficulty... Were it otherwise he would never have been able to find those words. (Rainer Maria Rilke)
amen to this quote! yes, i truly believe.. scarred and wounded healers do heal best..
amen to this quote! yes, i truly believe.. scarred and wounded healers do heal best..
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