Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Out with the old, In with the new
But my love for my country goes beyond politics and today, too, I swear my allegiance to him and be the change I want to see in my country.
A lot of negative things have already been said about the outgoing president so let me put in something positive about her:
- ROROs
- Economic policies that cushioned the country from the economic crash
- Moving holidays resulting to longer weekends
- Heightened awareness among people that the fight against corruption is everyone's business
- Peaceful transition to the next regime after the first-ever automated elections.
Day 13: Carpentry
Some of them carry measuring tape and they always make a point, mostly subtle, that I don't measure up to certain standards...
Some carry a saw and cut out whatever that is unneccessary.
Another might bring a hammer and you never know when the hammer is coming down. Ouch!
And then there are the vise grips, those who clamp themselves on you and don't let go. They just want you to be 'engaged in every part of the process'.
What bugs me the most are the sandpaper people. There are very abrasive and they come in just when you thought you are done. Sheeesh!
Whoever these people are, God put them in my life for a reason. I only need to pick out the truth, throw away the trash and become a better person.
On the other hand, God put me in the lives of others too. I wonder what I am in their lives... measuring tape, hammer, saw, vise grip or sandpapper?
Thank you God for these people. May I also be a blessing to them as I help in this carpentry business...
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Day 12: Conflicts...
One of the most important life skills that need to be taught is conflict resolution.
Conflict unresolved creates a fragile peace and relationships become shallow. Even worse, unresolved conflict leads to resentment and bitterness.
It is important to confront conflict fairly and quickly. If confrontation is not the desired option, forgiveness is.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Day 11: Dream Team...
To be able to fulfill those God-sized dreams, we need a dream team to assist us and they need us too, to assist them in fulfilling theirs.
A lot of people miss this. They believe that they need to reach their purpose by themselves, and in effect, they don't need relationships.
For those of us who know that we need people, we are not able to do so. Yes, people would disappoint us as we would also disappoint others. People would hurt us as we would them.
But the reality is this, we need each other.
WE can get disappointed and hurt, but we can always choose to forgive...
Day 10: Forgiveness
A lot of people think that not forgiving others give power over that person. It does not.
The truth is, it is unforgiveness that has power over their lives. Bitterness takes over and results to diseases both physical and relational.
While it is true that there are certain offenses that are so difficult to forgive and forget, we take heart that we have been forgiven too.
The ocean of God's forgiveness is so deep that our own inability to forgive others is but a drop...
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Day 9: No more striving
Up until a few years ago, I struggled with these three. I had one flash of insight and believed that if my heart is right with God, I would be able to do the three completely.
So I began to read about God and did what religious acts my religion recommended. I ended up emotionally and spiritually drained. I didn't get it. I did what I thought I should be doing to be close to God but eventually ending up worse than when I started.
Then one day I encountered God for the first time. The author of One Month to Live beautifully describes what I realized, "Your problem is not that you don't love God enough. It's that you don't understand how much He loves you. If you could grasp just a little bit of how much God loves you, you'd surrender all areas of your life to Him."
When I grasped it just a little tiny bit, I finally was able to have a personal relationship with God.
By His grace I know that I can love completely because He loved me first. I can forgive completely because He forgave me first. I can accept others completely because He accepted me first.
Finally, I have let go of striving...
Friday, June 25, 2010
Day 8: Life as a race
Unlike the usual race, in life we can choose to walk, to ride a bike or ride in someone else's car.
In order to get where we want to go faster, we choose a faster vehicle and go full throttle.
I have been driving since the age of fourteen and I can say pushing the pedal all the way to the floor is an exhilarating experience... but it's stupid.
Thankfully, I never got hurt and I realized that going full speed requires a skill or it can be deadly.
In my life, I have done full speed in some areas and got hurt. And then I started walking so as not to get hurt anymore... which is also stupid.
What I really need is to have the wisdom and skill to go full speed. God provides the forward thrust.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Day 7: The Heart
If we want to live passionately, we need to have a heart that is fully alive!
The heart contains our dreams and aspirations. What is most important is, it also contains the God-sized dreams and our life's purpose - the reason why we are on earth.
How's your heart today
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Day 6: No Longer My Way
I did the 'convenient' religious practices to be at 'peace'. I sacrificed, fasted and read my Bible.
I knew about God. But still, I felt spiritually empty
Not until I began to know God did I finally get it.
Note: This post is about my reflections on what I read from the book. It is not a summary on the book contents.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Day 5: The flight of a lifetime...
Unspeakable selfishness… I thought at first
Having put in more thought into it, I began to see the reason: I am no good if I'm unconscious.
I was brought up by my parents to think about others first, even my Jesuit teachers taught me to be 'a man for others'. But that can be carried to the extreme, becoming 'selfless' to the point of neglecting myself.
I used to be a workaholic, solving one problem after another, trying to 'make a difference' until I had my first burnout
Trust me, burnout is not fun.
I then realized that to be able to do more, I must keep myself in the best condition, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I may have to say 'no' to many things to be able to say 'yes' to bigger things.
Like the airline oxygen mask, I find myself refreshed whenever I 'breathe in' the Word of God.
Do you have your oxygen masks on?
Note: This post is about my reflections on what I read from the book. It is not a summary on the book contents.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Day 4: Online...
We live under the illusion that we always need to be online or else...
I resisted the online craze for sometime, having installed WiFi at home only this year. I registered for Facebook and Twitter only this month. I even have two mobile phones so I can be 'offline' from work during weekends and remain online for family through another number.
There is this nagging feeling of disconnection to the world whenever I'm offline.
Today, I realized that although my internet connection is very reliable, my connection with God is somewhat intermittent: just connecting whenever there is a need but never fully engaging throughout the day.
I certainly miss the feeling of peace, knowing that I am fully engaged with God. No striving, no condemnation, God is always in control.
Being connected with God does not mean locking myself up and praying. Being connected is starting my day with a prayer and continuing the conversation throughout until bedtime.
Time to be online 24x7 with God again...
Note: This post is about my reflections on what I read from the book. It is not a summary on the book contents.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Day 3: Busy... with what?
With today's technology being prevalent, I spend more time communicating through email even though the other person is a few steps away. Spending more time deleting spam than actually communicating. And spending the rest of the day going through reports, requests, etc.
And life just flashes by...
And I got myself thinking: Is this the best use of my time and energy? Is there something out there that will bring the utmost value if i do it myself? Where is my presence most needed? Who needs me most?
As I look at how I spend my time, I find activities that I can do without. In fact, taking away some of them allowed me to spend more time doing stuff that makes my heart come alive.
It is beginning to do wonders. If I could risk a little bit more, I'm on my way to living a life with more passion!
Note: This post is about my reflections on what I read from the book. It is not a summary on the book contents.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Day 2: Moments
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. - Anonymous
Day after day, we go through the motions of life. Wake up in the morning, take a shower, eat breakfast, go to work with lunch in between, go home, have dinner, and finally go to sleep. To some extent, there would be some variety, but then life is monotonously boring.
We then fill our lives with cheap thrills, shallow relationships, empty learning and whatnot's.
We go through leading lives of quiet desperation, living lives vicariously through soap operas, social networking and living in the information superhighway.
But there are those moments, moments that we feel truly alive. Let me share with you some of my moments:
- looking at my baby's ultrasound images
- hearing its heartbeat for the first time
- my nephew giggling at a funny face I made
- watching my wife's growing tummy rise and fall at every breath while she sleeps
And you?
Note: This post is about my reflections on what I read from the book. It is not a summary on the book contents.
One Month to Live
Today, I decided to go through the book, One Month to Live again.
After going through the first chapter, I came to the conclusion that a lot of things in my life are beyond my control.
On my tombstone will be my name, probably my favorite quote, and my date of birth and death. Whatever I did and accomplished in my life will be represented by the dash between those dates.
Surprisingly, what happens in the dash is more than a dash. It consists of a lifetime created by the choices we made. It is important for me to live out my faith, press on towards God's purpose in my life, hoping that in the end, God will say to me, "Well done, good and faithful servant.'
Eventually, everyone dies, but not everyone truly lived.
Note: This post is about my reflections on what I read from the book. It is not a summary on the book contents.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Obituary(Repost from 11/07/2006)
He had a positive disposition around him that only comes from living a life fully surrendered to God. He also had this fierceness in him that others came to call him a prayer-warrior.Yet deep within him, there is this child’s heart that comes out at unexpected times, a trusting and giving heart, and a heart that celebrates life. When asked what drives him daily, he would reply, "I only live for one thing: to make God smile daily!"
He will be missed.He was an obedient child of God, a loving husband and father, a good son and son-in-law, a dependable brother and brother-in-law, a loving uncle, a loyal friend and a thoughtful colleague.He had this way of moving around purposefully and had a sense of security that enabled him to say ‘No’ to anything that got him off-purpose. He used to say, “My life is but one drop in the ocean called eternity.” He lived his life that way, living in the present in light of eternity, balancing significance and success. He was always able to draw out lessons or messages even from very difficult circumstances. “Something good will come out of this!”, he used to say.
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