Shine

Life is short. They say we pass only once. And after that our shadows are forgotten. Is this life all about? No. Life is about the spark, the light that is up to us to let it shine or not. If we are able to emit this light in our lifetime, the minds may forget us but the hearts won't. And if we fail to use this light, our life would only be a meaningless passing. 

So let us strive daily to let our light shine; for this is God's light, the very reason why He breathe His life unto us: to love, to shine, to spark, to add meaning to life.

A Glimpse At Stillness

The sun does not actually rises. The sun does not actually sets. If we are to get out of Earth and have a trip to the universe, we would see that the sun is still, very, very still in its place. In actuality it is the Earth that moves around the sun and revolves in its orbit. We Earthlings see differently because of our limited vision. 

We Earthlings are subject to the nature of our world. All we have to do is flow with it. We do not need to question the high tides, low tides and ebb of life. We do not need to question the passing of the seasons. Everything has been there for more than six thousand years, even before we were born. We do not have to question everything in which we are just subjects. We do not fall from our planet because of the pull of gravity. Everything in our planet follows a law. And we are subjects to it. 

We should even be grateful because we have a God who guides us; a God who says, 'Do not ask, just be. I am in control.'

We do not need to become what we are not. We do not need to follow our Earthly whims and worldy wishes. In God is truth, in God is freedom. If we know how to listen closely with the whisperings of God, we would surely overcome the world and its polarities. And when I say listen to God, it should be our spirit doing the listening because a mind that is not in line with the spirit always lead someone astray. 

Modern Day Jonah

Most of us are fascinated by the Bible story of Jonah, whom God called, and eventually was eaten by a big fish because he refused to answer God's call. But a modern day Jonah? Is there? Yes, I think so. You and I are both the likes of Jonah. We all has a unique calling that only us could answer. The world awaits for what we can do and what we can give. The world opened up when we were born. It welcomed us. It gave us the space that we would occupy. And it gave us the opportunity to share what we bring on our birth.

Yes, finding our calling is not easy as well as fulfilling of it. It would take many heartaches, heartbreaks and hardships before we would realize the right path God has intended us to take. It would be annoying at times why God would have us do what we do not want to do and hate to do. We do not even feel qualified to do certain things that we are supposed to do. Yet, when we give God a chance and start following the urgings of our spirit, we would find in the end, that yeah, God is right. So keep on following the urgings of your spirit. Listen to the dissatisfaction of your soul. That is how God speaks. I know because I was once there too.

Get happy!

Journey With God

Life is a journey. We know this since we come into awareness of this world. Life is not just acquiring material things, having good education,  good friends, comfortable house, perfect family and a belief in a higher being we call God. The journey of life is fulfilled not through this material world. The journey of life is fulfilled in perfecting the faith we have in God. 

God is not a God whom we know from afar. He is not only a Father who provides material things. He is a Father who loves. He is a friend who cares. He is a God whom we can touch, we can feel, we can be one with through communion. 

The breath we have is His. The life we are given comes from Him. He knows us so much. He counts our every hair. He is with us. He is in us. He is in our every cell. He is the light inside our hearts. He is seated deep inside our being. There is no need for us to look outside to feel Him; for He says, "Be still and know that I am God." In our stillness His voice is heard louder. In our stillness His glory shines the most. To worship Him is to glorify every moment. His light shines through us. His light shines within us. His ways are peaceful. His presence is delightful. In His presence we are guided to the right path. In His presence our soul rejoices. In His presence we are whole. 

Rejoice in God. Feel His presence. Journey with Him.

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The Greatest Dad

I have the greatest Father I know. He teaches me everything from the day I was born till the day I would breath my last. One of the greatest lessons I learned, and is still learning and would be learning, is the art of walking; for life is a journey, and journey must I. 

At first He holds my hand. When I already know the step He would let me go, though I am still afraid and still not confident of my capacity. At times He just watches me. At times He seems to be out of sight; yet every time I fall He is always there to catch me. Sadly, there are times when He allows me to fall. I will get scars and bruises and all. These are the times I learn to be extra careful the next time and promise myself not to be hurt again. But I am such a weak creature. No matter how much I try, still my steps falter. So many times I cry; so many times my Father kisses my tears goodbye. 

Once I sit planning not to make another step again. My Father nudge me to go on and says, life is not about walking perfectly--it's about taking the small steps to reach the destination. So every time I fall and fail, I keep reminding myself, get up, take another step and reach the destination. And when I falter, I smile to my Loving Father who smiles at me back. I then start to love my journey with wounds, with bruises and all. My soul is ever thankful to have God as my greatest Dad.

Get happy!

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Peak Experiences

Peak experiences are the most valuable deposits in our memory bank. It is described in psychology as transcendent moments of pure joy and elation. In Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualization is located at the very top of the pyramid, representing the need to fulfill one’s individual potential. According to Maslow, peak experiences play an important role in self-actualization.

Other experts describe peak experiences as “a heightened sense of wonder, awe, or ecstasy over an experience, or a highly valued experience which is characterized by such intensity of perception, depth of feeling”, or it can be a “sense of profound significance as to cause it to stand out, in the subject’s mind, in more or less permanent contrast to the experiences that surround it in time and space.”

There are many other descriptions of what a peak experience really is. For me, it is a heightened spiritual experience. The best description of it though, would be based on actual experience. I will use the words of Russell E. Dicarlo in describing one. 

“Blanketed by an azure sky, the orange-yellow rays of the setting sun can, at special times, gift us with a moment of such considerable beauty, we find ourselves momentarily stunned, with frozen gaze. The splendor of the moment so dazzles us, our compulsively chattering minds give pause, so as not to mentally whisk us away to a place other than the here-and-now. Bathed in luminescence, a door seems to open to another reality, always present, yet rarely witnessed.” 

Above is a common experience, if one were to witness it during sunrise or sunset with an open heart and mind.

Now let me pull out one of my rarest experiences of it. It happened merely a decade ago. It was just an ordinary sunny Saturday morning inside the campus. No students are present except for those taking the Masteral classes. While waiting for the professor to arrive, we were standing outside of the gymnasium talking leisurely. Fronting the gymnasium was a small yard covered with grasses and of mixed plants and flowers planted along the wall of the fence. There was a tree with birds busy chirping and hopping under it. It was just an ordinary sight of busy birds looking for food and playing. However, suddenly a bird with a straw, around fifteen inches long, hanging down its beak flew swiftly in front of us. In the fleeting moment the most magical thing happened. Five feet above the ground, as the golden rays of the sun hit the bird and the straw floated ever so softly in the air, the bird and the straw turned gold before my eyes as if a golden spotlight from somewhere illumined upon it and made it glow. It glowed so luminously I was stunned. I seemed to be looking at a photograph. The bird froze and the time suspended. Everything was quiet as my eyes grew big in amazement and awe. I felt I was in another place and time away from everything. My spirit was ecstatic I forgot my physical body. Everything stopped. But reality immediately pulled me back as fast as it had let me go. Sensing that I was not alone in my ecstasy, I turned around and saw one of my classmates with a mesmerized expression on her face. Full of awe and in high spirits she asked me, “Have you seen it? Have you seen it?”All I could mutter was, “Yes, yes”. “It was so beautiful!” ”Yes it was.”And we both fell silent still asking ourselves if it was just an illusion while feeling the remaining taste of ecstasy that just entered in our memories. 

Was I lucky? Was I blessed? I do not know. 

They say that self-actualization is considered quite rare, which means that peak experiences can be equally elusive. In one study, researchers found that only about two-percent of individuals surveyed had ever had a peak experience. If this is true, does this mean that God plays favorites? I do not think so. In my experience, I will have one when my soul and spirit are in peace with God; when I commune with God regularly; when my mind is quiet; when I allowed God to take me wholly. And when I allow my mind to live in turmoil and give my full attention to the cares of this material world, these experiences are alien and yes, elusive.

In everything, God is still in command when He would give out or when He would hold back. We just have to do our part. Jesus told us that in order for us to enter the kingdom of heaven we should be like little children. Amazement and awe are inherent characteristics of children. We just have to open our spirit and our soul to every blessing that God is about to shower upon us. Most importantly, we should not put God in a box as if we already know completely who He is. He created the universe and us, and also of wonders, of things that are still undiscovered and unexplained by science. As long as our minds are open, He is willing to bring us to our ultimate peak experience.

Path To Awareness

Yes, this book is old. It has been with me for twenty-two long years. It was given to me by Sister Elena as a guide on my way to a new path. The words of this book are simple, written by an Indian priest, Father Anthony de Mello. But the message? Oh, so deep until now I am still struggling to apply in my life. I already lost count of the times I read this book. I had read it over and over again. Once I thought I already understood his words and had believed in myself I was that enlightened. But it only took few failures in myself did I realize how ignorant I still was. 

Using the words of Fr. de Mello and borrowing from his experience made me only become self-righteous. One priest said, had he read this book earlier he would have woken up earlier. But me? I was only eighteen when I first got hold of this book; yet I was not any better five or ten years after that. I even came to the point of attempting to burn this book because I thought I did not benefit from it. It only made me feel guilty of not being as enlightened as Father de Mello was. In short,  his words are easy to understand but difficult to apply. Enlightenment or awareness, is honestly like a bubble in the air. You are mesmerized by its beauty when it floats but bursts when it touches your hands; for when you are aware what you learned no longer matters. What matters most is the present moment, the Being that is you.

So then I tossed the book aside and forgot all about it for almost a decade. The other day, I remembered it. I took it from the shelf and started to read again, waiting for any sparks in my spirit. After reading just the first few pages, I finally understood why. Father de Mello became wise because of his learning, of his experiences, of his influences, of everything he had been through. I could only get inspiration from his words and his life. I could only say to myself, 'hey, it is possible to be like him.' But even memorizing all his words could not make me as wise and as enlightened as he had been. I have to follow my own path. I have to learn my own lessons. I have to live my own life. And if all my efforts would pay, I could only say, 'this I have done, this I have become. If you want to be where I am, hear my words but do not follow me. Do your own thing, dance your own dance, paint your own masterpiece, for it is only you who knows deep in your heart what makes you happy and what makes you realize your Being.'

God sent people in our lives that would serve as our guides. But our final destination depends solely on us. This is where our Will play the crucial path. Learning and becoming is not done overnight. It would take a lifetime. And we are so blessed if we would be able to realize this before our candle gives off its light.

On my part, I am so thankful for meeting Fr. de Mello at an earlier age for I already know where my destination is. Getting there is my only struggle. But with God, I know someday I will become the Being I am supposed to be. And I hope you would be too.

Get happy!

The Process Of Becoming

This is a  re-post from Fr. Ronnie E. Ablong's  facebook account. You may view the original post here: fb/ronnieablong. It is Fr. Ronnie's desire to spread the word of God through media. And it is my pleasure to share his thoughts here. (Posted with permission).

We learn to walk by walking just as we learn to talk by talking. Life is a constant process of becoming and there never seems to be enough for in this world the only permanent is change. And there is no escape except in the tender embrace of God whom Jesus called "Abba" (Father).
We all want comfort; we all long for consolation; we all need acceptance and appreciation. Sometimes it comes, at other times, does not or not at all. It slips through our grip because our hands are greased with hatred and jealousy; our hearts are envious, our thoughts vengeful. In life, we cannot have all that we like and all that we ever wanted so we may see the need of a God who truly provides.
Life's greatest lessons are learned in adversity and not in plenty; its farthest stride are not made at sunrise but at sunset. There's something in moving on than in stepping back. The former is hope; the latter is depression.
Walking. Moving on. Making strides. These are part of the thing called life.

Get happy!

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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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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Will You Please Stop Criticizing?

Yesterday I read an FB post concerning the attitude of other people; of how untrue they are, and of how unloving they are. Though there is a grain of truth in it, yet what can we do about it? Millions of people like that are roaming in planet Earth. We could not do anything about it. Jesus came. Jesus left. Still these kind of people exist. On my take, instead of criticizing how unbecoming these people are, could we just love them? I know it is hard. But how sure also are we that never, not even once in our life have we become unloving and untruthful. I acknowledge my humanity. And I acknowledge also the fact that once or perhaps many times in my life have I been untrue and unloving. Sadly, these times happen in my unawareness. People long to be loved and accepted. They would not do anything that would make them look nasty, save only the fact if they are unhealthy (that is, if they have disease like masochism and the like). 

Man is a complex being. We all know that. People behave according to the voice of their experiences, or of their influences. So could we please stop criticizing and begin forgiving and loving? I would be much grateful if you will forgive me and love me than criticize me. I am already doing the same to you, whoever you are. This is the easier way to bring peace to the world. This is the Christian way.

Get happy!

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Saved By An Angel

Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was cleaning. After a while I noticed that part of my dustpan was missing. It was down below near the edge of the riverbank. In order to get it I had to pass through a narrow downhill path along the riverbank. The path was very steep. Without much second thoughts I immediately went down to get the part of the dustpan. But when I reached three steps down I lost my balance and fell right to the raging waters of the muddy river. The fall was high. As I was on the air I felt so helpless. I just took a deep breath and said, "God I now let go. My fate is in your hands. Everything depends on You now." As I fell on the water, I managed to rise to the surface and stayed afloat and tried to swim towards the riverbank. Yet, the current was so strong my efforts were all in vain. I was carried further to the center. Fear took hold of me. I thought that was already the end of me. However, suddenly a strong hand grabbed my right forearm. I looked to see who it was. It was a brown-skinned man swimming alongside me. He just came out of nowhere. His grip was comforting and somehow was telling me I would be saved. No matter how strong the current amidst the raging waters he managed to bring me to the edge of the riverbank. When I was safely brought back to my family who was waiting at the side of the river, he disappeared immediately the way he appeared. His presence made me curious. I thought, he might be just around looking at me always; and when he saw me in danger he rushed to my help. Then I asked  a friend about him, of who he was. A friend just told me he was his cousin. I doubt it though because deep in my heart I believed he was no ordinary human being. He did not talk. He just looked at me as if he knew me and his stare seemed to say, I care for you. His presence was also very comforting. And though after he saved me I glanced at him from afar before he was gone, I felt he would just be around looking after me. When we look at the raging river again; it was already so calm and clear. They said it was just due to the rains that the water became muddy and raging. Now it was so calm you could clearly see the stones. It was still deep yet so calm. I felt so at peace looking at that river which almost took my life. And happy at the same time that there is always someone looking after me.

Though it was just a dream, it seemed so real to me. What if that person did not arrive? What would happen to me? Shall I die in my dream? I don't know. I don't know. One thing is clear for me. I called on God, and He sent an angel to save me. I also interpret that dream as, when I am in trouble I just have to call on God because He always answer and will always send someone who is going to help me. And whatever troubles I will be in, it would not last. The serenity it brings after I conquer it is so refreshing to my soul. God would never ever leave me. I believe that was my first physical encounter with my guardian angel, whom my God sent. Have you had any encounter with your angels too?

Get happy!

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Eye Of The Sahara

This is the Richat Structure, also known as Eye of the Sahara. This is a prominent circular feature in the Sahara desert located at the west-central Mauritania. Wikipedia describes this as a deeply eroded, slightly elliptical, 40 km in diameter dome. The sedimentary rock exposed in this dome ranges in age from Late Proterozoic within the center of the dome to Ordovician sandstone around its edges. The sedimentary rocks comprising this structure dip outward at 10°–20°. Differential erosion of resistant layers of quartzite has created high-relief circular cuestas. Its center consists of a siliceous breccia covering an area that is at least 3 km in diameter.

 Some scientists believed this to be created by an asteroid that hit Earth many, many years ago. But geologists have found a lack of any credible evidence for shock metamorphism or any type of deformation indicative of a hypervelocity extraterrestrial impact. Some also believed this to be a result of volcanic eruption. Again, it was also unsupported due to the lack of defining characteristics of volcanoes. The reigning theory is that this is the result of differential erosion of a geologic dome, a circular anticline revealed by slowly shedding layers under the erosive power of wind-blown sand. 

One thing is only certain, God created this enigmatic structure that is clearly seen by astronauts in outer space. This is a characteristic of God's mystery and magnanimity. We don't have to explain everything that God created. We would only be awed and be amazed and be happy for all things beautiful and wonderful.

Get happy!

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Passing Through The Crisis Of Life

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Crisis. All of us pass through this. I am here now. I do not want to stay though. Only that years dropping by often here had taken its toll on me. If only it has infected my mind alone, I could handle it much easier. However, it had affected my physical well being. This I worry much about. After I went to the doctor, nothing serious seemed to be evident.  I just have to wait another two months if the prescription given really helped my problem. After a week's medication, I felt a lot better. It's just that I am still under the shadow of this crisis. Calling it midlife crisis seems appropriate. It seems I have taken a halt and I never know where else to go. I only rely on my God for guidance. I could not trust my own judgments as of the moment. The only light I hold is the thought that whatever I am experiencing right now, or wherever I am now in the scheme of things, this would just be part of the story that I have to tell. I know I am not alone in this place. We all are to pass through this phase. I am just taking deep, long, slow breaths. All is well. God is in charge.

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Get Happy!