The Secret Getaway

What kind of person who loves to be alone? Indeed you're right. The loner. The loner loves to be alone not because he is lonely but because he is just so comfortable with himself and with the world alone. 

I happen to be one of them. I'm proud of it. I love to be around with people I am comfortable with. Yet, no pleasure could match the feeling I have when I am alone. Scary? Not for me. If you're curious about the kind of person I am, let me bring you to my wanderings alone. If you're like me, you could relate with me so easily. But if you're exactly my opposite, just bear with me and see for yourself how boring myself could seem to be.

In my aloneness I love to go places. I love to explore deep, deep down in my heart. I feel so at peace whenever I'm in connection with that light deep within. Sometimes too, I just love to float. You see, I just have to lie down. I prefer in the bedroom since there is lesser noise and there is no one to bother me. I lie down, then I close my eyes. Most of the time I cover my eyes with a piece of cloth so that all I could see is total darkness. It is in this total darkness that I notice even the tiniest flicker of light. Then I put both my hands sometimes on my stomach, sometimes on both sides. I don't know why, but I feel so at peace and more comfortable whenever I put both my hands on my stomach. There is that kind of energy that relaxes my gut. After I find myself so comfortable, I started to float. In my mind only, of course. I have not yet developed that kind of levitation. And if ever I could float while lying on my back, I might looked like being possessed. That might be the reason why it seems to be impossible levitating in that position. 

Anyway, if my busy mind could not contain itself in the dark and keep on entertaining whatever thoughts that come upon its way, I escape into my most favorite secret place - my favorite getaway. This place is a place out of the blue. All I need to get there is just close my eyes, be still and go there. I don't remember exactly how I find this place. All I know is I have been going this place for decades now. It's just an ordinary one. It's full of dry leaves. Whenever  I find myself there I have to take five steps forward and stop on an area where dry leaves are much thicker upon each other. I slowly sweep aside with my right hand the leaves. A steel cover of a man hole appears. With my two hands I pull to the right the steel cover. A man hole appears. I slowly sit down on that opening. First, my right leg, then my left leg. I put my feet on a steel ladder that leads down to the tunnel. Then I slowly inch my way downward. When I reach the fifth rung down the ladder, with my right hand I pull the steel cover to close the opening. There is also a handle under it. Then I continue to climb down. After I step on the twelfth rung my right feet hits the ground. Wow, deeper on earth I am. Though I am below the ground I am not afraid because I know I am on the safest place on earth that I know of. My right hand then reach for the switch of the light at my right at level with my ears. The light of the bulb is yellow. Nobody builds this place. God does. He built this place just for me alone. He brought me to this place. And it is mine. Now, when the light is on I could clearly see the way ahead. I then walk a meter only and arrive at a wooden door standing opposite the ladder. I just have to push that door slowly. And then, charan! 

Paradise here I am. Welcome to my paradise. Here the tigers, the lions, the sharks, the crocodiles, every creature are my friends. I float on air. I flow with the wind. I swim the deepest sea. I swim in the clearest river. I sit on the rainbow. I bath in the rain. Here, I am not a queen or a princess for there are no maid servants. Yet, I am the happiest woman I can be. I blow bubbles. I watch the cool sunrise. I watch the gentle sunset. I lie on smooth grasses and wide prairie. I ride on a unicorn. I swim with big and small fishes. I ran with dogs and puppies. I float on the sea. I float on air, which is my most favorite activity. There are so many beautiful things I could do in this place. I couldn't name it all. There are just too many to mention. 

But for now, let me bring you to one of my most favorite activities - sitting on the grass in the prairie and watch the gentle sunrise.  Take off your shoes; could you feel the smooth grass? Don't be surprised if by just closing my eyes the scenery changes the way I imagined them to be. It is just part of God's precious gift to me - giving what my mind hoped to be in my own paradise. Beautiful, isn't it? Now we're on the prairie. Everywhere are small hills and grasses. In our right are majestic mountains. In our left is the blue ocean far, far beyond. Let's feel the fresh air. Gentle winds are blowing on our face. The wind is so cool you thought you are in an air-conditioned room. Come on, breathe the fresh air. Let out your tongue and feel the gentle breeze. You want to run? Let's run. The grass is so smooth we are like running on a bear's fur. There are no stones or tiny pebbles here so nothing's going to hurt our feet. You want to shout? Shout! Shout the goodness inside of you, for here nothing could corrupt our mind. "I love you God! I love you paradise! I love you life!" See? I love shouting those words. And I love so much to feel the gentle wind. Let me open wide my arms, look up in the blue sky, and take a very, very deep breath. Hhhhmmmm..... Refreshing... Now the sun's about to rise. Let us sit down and watch it rising over the hills in front of us. Beautiful. Could you feel it whispering your name and greeting you a very, very beautiful day? It shines  on you. Feel it. Feel it's golden color. Touch it. Touch the light. Be refreshed by its light. Be empowered by its light. See the birds at the other side of the prairie? Look at their golden silhouette. Look at how they move. Look at how they fly. I am so much mesmerized. Are you not? Beautiful. How I wish I could sit here in this way, with this scenery forever. Yet, in this paradise the only thing I have not power over is time. Time continues. And so this sunrise. For now, let us enjoy to the fullest this beautiful sight in front of us for it only lasts for a few minutes. Beautiful sun. And remember, the sun is just is. It's our world that's making it, the way we see it now. So we could also say, what a beautiful and amazing world we have...

You just discover one aspect in my paradise. Perhaps you might be wondering why in all of God's creature there is no other human being  you could see in there. Why? I invite no one. After all it's my most favorite place to go alone. Remember? It's the loner's paradise. When I'm done with all the play and the leisure, I then slowly say good bye to each and go out the way I enter. When I'm in the open ground above I close again the cover of the manhole with the tunnel cover and put the dry leaves back again. Then five steps I take and open my eyes with a big smile. Wow, what a refreshing experience that one has been. 

That was it. Now you have just been there. So it's no longer a secret place for me alone. It's our secret place. Care to borrow my place? Well, you could. Just make sure I am not there when you go there. By the way, you don't have to ask me nor let me know when you're going there. The only thing you need to do is be present with yourself alone. Do not think of anybody else including me. For if you do, you could never be alone because you are bringing someone in your thoughts. That's a tip I could leave you for now. And if ever you're wondering why I brought you there to this visit when I don't like to invite anyone, it's not for the pleasure of playing there alone, it's for the pleasure of letting someone know how to enjoy oneself when you feel like it. Am also not afraid that you'll take my place away from me, for you couldn't. If ever you'll decide to go there, God will bring  you to your very own. It might look like my very own place but I know there would be some differences; for we don't have the same eyes. Our paradise depends on how our eyes could see and how our heart could feel. It's called privacy, and no one can enter. God created our privacy that only He has the access; for  it's the only way He can connect with us heart to heart .

 That's all for now. Thank you for the company.

Get happy!

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With A Smile

Life is a rhythm of good days and not so good days. Today is a not so good day for me. The good thing with this kind of day is--when you are struggling hard to just get through with this kind of day, out of nowhere something catches your attention as if to say, 'hey, take it easy, slow down, it is gonna be alright.' This song of the Eraserheads just pop up as a background of an ad in YouTube. But then the lyrics hit me hard and good. It said, 'baby, don't be scared.... Baby, you don't have to worry 'coz there ain't no need to hurry.' Just these lines and I feel a whole lot better. Seems God is speaking to me directly. These lines are all that I need and I am all set. I have copied the lyrics here. So sing along with me.

Lift your head, baby, don't be scared
Of the things that could go wrong along the way
You'll get by with a smile
You can't win at everything but you can try.

Baby, you don't have to worry
'Coz there ain't no need to hurry
No one ever said that there's an easy way
When they're closing all their doors
And they don't want you anymore
This sounds funny but I'll say it anyway.

Girl I'll stay through the bad times
Even if I have to fetch you everyday
We'll get by with a smile
You can never be too happy in this life.

In a world where everybody
Hates a happy ending story
It's a wonder love can make the world go round
But dont let it bring you down
And turn your face into a frown
You'll get along with a little prayer and a song.

(Too doo doo...)
Let me hear you sing it
(Too doo doo...)

In a world where everybody
Hates a happy ending story
It's a wonder love can make the world go round
But don't let it bring you down
And turn your face into a frown
You'll get along with a little prayer and a song.

Lift your head, baby, don't be scared
Of the things that could go wrong along the way
You'll get by with a smile
Now it's time to kiss away those tears goodbye

(Too doo doo...)
Let me hear you sing it
(Too doo doo...)

That was so good. Thank you God. Thank you Eraserheads. 

Get happy!

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The Ultimate Test

Education is basic to human beings. At three years young we are sent to school to study. On and on it goes. Every year, we go to a higher level. But before stepping on this higher level of learning we have to pass examinations and tests. If we pass, we are allowed to the higher level. If we don't we will remain at that level until we master and pass that level are we allowed to the next. And last of all, we obtain our degrees and titles if we pass the ultimate examinations appropriate for our chosen fields.

The same holds true with life. At a young age, we undergo the hardship of learning to walk and fall. Our learning goes on and on until we no longer need our parents to assist us in our motor development. There are other parts that we have to develop, like the emotional, psychological, mental and spiritual. We learn these things as we grow older. Here, obstacles and problems are our tests. The hard part, there are no specific and exact theories that we could use in order to solve such problems. We derive the solutions from our experiences, learnings, influences, judgments and guts. Some work. Some don't. Here, we start to question life for not giving us what we ask. Here, is the crucial part of us becoming a saint or a sinner, a mystic or a mistake, a victim or a victor. Here, is the very reason why Jesus died for us. Here, is our spirituality tested to pass or fail.

Most of us are wired to hate problems and obstacles, because we believe that a happy and peaceful life is one where obstacles and problems are absent. We are wired to believe that peace and happiness do not co-exist with tribulations. We are wired to always put everything in order that we may become happy and be at peace.

 In the process we forget that nature is compose of night and day, sun and rain, life and death. How can we know what peace is, if we haven't known what crisis is? How would the grass grow if it's only the sun that is shining forever not giving way to the rain? We need both worlds. We strive to both worlds. So why complain for the tests, the obstacles? We need to learn. It is the only way for us to learn and grow. Life is never unfair. We need only to use what has been ingrained in our being by our Maker. We need these tests to pass. We need theses tests to earn the degree of a well-lived and fulfilled life. We need these tests to enjoy the glory of God.

Jesus has done His part and pass the test. On our part, difficult as it may seem, we need to do our part and hurdle over these obstacles. There are still vacancy in the ranks of saints, recognized or not. Let us claim ours.

Get happy!

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My Caring God

When I asked for strength, He sent forth trials, and I became strong.

When I asked for wisdom, He sent forth confusion, and I became wise.

When I asked for enlightenment, He sent forth doubts, and I became enlightened.

When I asked for acceptance, I was left alone, and I came to love myself.

Is He an uncaring God? Certainly not. He just wants us to realize within ourselves the hidden powers and abilities He had gifted us on the day of our birth.

Get happy!

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God Hears, God Heals

With God nothing shall be impossible. God hears, God heals.

It became an irony to me: we all ask for God to heal us; God is more than willing to heal us. Yet, why does it seems that our need for healing and God's promise of healing do not meet? Where is that very place that our will and God's will would meet? Nobody knows, except perhaps to God's enlightened ones. Well, wherever it is, our faith would help us find the way. This I am so much sure of. And this is the very truth I held on to.

I had been suffering from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) since November last year. The pain and discomfort was unbearable. I requested to be brought to the hospital. After discharge I still did not feel okey. I consulted a specialist and was given medications. After three weeks of taking the medicines, I was better but not totally healed. I searched for ways to get healed. I followed the experts' advice to GERD patients on what to eat and what to avoid. I felt better but not totally healed. Then I started to experience tremor-like sensations in my arms and legs. I easily got tired. My head and body felt so light. I went to the doctor again. This time I was given multivitamins, hoping that my body would respond to it positively. I also took herbal food supplements. I prayed more and got back to meditation again. I felt much better but not totally healed.

Come 24th of April, the first day of St. Vincent Ferrer's novena mass. I attended the novena masses hoping to nurture once again my spiritual life, and also with the prayer intention of obtaining God's healing. Gratefully, I was able to complete the nine days mass. I have been staying in Larena for fourteen years, but it was the first time that I completed the novena mass. And on the last day, God touched my spirit. He blessed me. I felt it. As the choir sang the communion song, my spirit cried. I held back tears. If I were just alone in the church with God at that very moment, I would not mind crying bucket of tears. It was in those kind of moments that I used to feel God's presence. And at that moment my spirit communed with God. He touched me. I felt so light inside. My spirit was at ease, my soul at peace. I was so grateful to Him. It was as if I was in a kind of spiritual retreat. It was so long ago since the last time He touched my spirit like that. And it was so beautiful. 

Days after that, the reflux did not bug me anymore. I felt a whole lot better. Was I healed? Did God grant my prayers? I want to believe so. I prayed it would be so, for until this day I am still so okey. This is only what I could tell for now. Well, did I say on the eighth day of the novena mass I felt so sick? I was. But I told the feelings, 'back of Satan, I am strong and God is healing me.' After the mass I felt so okey. Perhaps strengthening our will and faith are also keys to healing. Putting our spirit in the hands of God and communing with Him continually contribute fifty percent of the healing process. When the spirit is strong, the body follows. I believe so. And I firmly believe too that God hears prayers and heals us completely in His own time. What He did to me, He will do to you too.

Get happy!

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Seize The Moment

Seize the moment while you still can, while you still have the health. 

Do not let the moment pass you by doing nothing.

Build your dreams. Work on your dreams. 

If you are older enough to do it, let not age hinder you.

Just do it.

But if you belong to the younger generation who is using time in a senseless way, stop it and use that time, that very moment in pursuing your dreams.

Remember, you do not have that moment, that health forever. 

As time passes by, that moment, that health is getting little and little.

The worst scenario a person can realize, is when he loses the health and has not yet realized his dreams.

Would you wait for it to happen in your life?

Get happy!

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In The Eyes Of A Child

Children are ever curious, inquisitive and easily get amazed. We all are once like this in our early days. I am just so glad that at forty, my childlike eyes are still at its best. 

I am still fascinated with lights shining and glowing; with its reflections from ceilings to floors, to walls. During the novena masses which I attended for the preparation of Saint Vincent Ferrer's fiesta in Larena, Siquijor, I am always caught in awe of the church lights. The mass is scheduled every five o'clock in the afternoon. So when the sun is setting, the lights of the church slowly become visible. Though I am so much in tune with how the mass is going on, my eyes still catch glimpses of these lights. I so love watching it when everything is shining, shimmering splendid. My eyes travel every corner inside the church that my eyes could see; from walls to floors, to altars, to flowers. Just every thing in it. I feel so good inside. I feel as if my eyes will shine too every time I focus my gaze on these lights. I feel so light being surrounded with these lights. It is a kind of meditation in another way. This is one of the reasons I look forward to in attending the novena mass. With God's grace I was able to complete the nine days. Thanks to God and to my childlike eyes too.

Get happy!

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