Where Your Treasure Is

I know it's been more than a month and I know that a lot has been said about this but the insights brought about by Typhoon Ondoy are much to precious for me not to talk about at all. It is something we all have stories about. Here are some of my favorites:

Threatened with the fast rising waters inside her house, my friend rushes to prepare a small knapsack of things to bring along to higher ground. She packs the little jewelry that she had, underwear and opens the closet and agonizes about what to choose from among her many clothes. In the midst of ankle deep water she realizes that she didn't need all those clothes after all.

Another friend sifts through the many things that had been damaged by the flood waters and finds a box of inspirational books with pages soggy and clumped together and thinks: "if I had only passed it on for someone else to read, then that someone would have had been inspired or would have had additional knowledge --- no flood could have ravaged inspiration and learning."

What are our treasures?

What do we hoard?

When we leave, can we bring our treasures with us?

My son, Gian, who almost drowned during the flood replied with just two words when we asked him what he learned from the experience: "Carpe diem." Seize the day. Make the most of the day because at the snap of the finger everything can be gone and today could be your last.

What did you spend your money on?

How did you spend your hours?

What is your treasure?

There your heart is also.

CORY!

R.I.P.
Corazon Cojuangco Aquino
(1933-2009)

By your life you showed that God's grace is sufficient
for those who yield to His bidding.

Our nation celebrates your life
as we grieve your death.

Have You Seen Him Whom My Heart Loves?

Have you seen Him whom my heart loves?

Did you hear Him call my name?

Him who took me for what I am,

Him whose love has made me tame.

Have you seen Him whom my heart loves?

Did you see Him calm my storms?

Him who protects and shelters me,

Him who keeps me fit and strong.

Have you seen Him whom my heart loves?

Have you felt his healing touch?

I am redeemed, forgiven.

In Him no suffering's too much.

Have you seen Him whom my heart loves?

Have you seen what I've become?

Now a teacher and a poet.

For Him I'd dance and play the drum!

Have you seen Him whom my heart loves?

Have you listened to his word?

It can form you, nourish and inspire ---

The key to much reward.

Have you seen Him whom my heart loves?

He whispers to you to be known.

If you find Him, take His hand.

He wants to take you home.

Seeing With Compassion

"Jesus saw the huge crowd as He stepped out of the boat,
and He had compassion on them
because they were like sheep without a Shepherd." - Mark 6:34

compassion (noun) from compati to sympathize,

from Latin com- + pati to bear, suffer

— more sympathetic consciousness of others' distress

together with a desire to alleviate it

Lord, allow me to see others with compassion even when I'm tired and drained and hungry as you would have when you saw the crowd. Help me remember that "others" means not only those I am assigned to care for, that it includes family, friends, people on the street, the rude sales lady, the boss, the president of my country...

Let not my own concerns dim my vision and keep me from seeing in others their need for you that I may share You to those who want to hear and learn of Your love; those who need to unburdened and be listened to. That I may be "You" to those who need to be ministered to; those who need to be healed. Amen.

I Think of You

Hi, Dad!
It's your birthday today!
You would have been 78.

I cut a paper butterfly and taped it on the wall of my room.
It's been there for a while.
It's your presence in my life.

It's my YOU.

I miss you so much, Daddy!
Life hasn't been the same.
No day passes that I do not think about you.
I think of you when I see beautiful things because you taught me how to appreciate beauty.
... when there is great food because you taught me how acquire a taste for them.
... when someone loves to talk endlessly. In my mind I say, "he's like Daddy."
... when I need answers to my questions.

... when I deal with my kids and I remember how you parented me.
... when I'm at mom's new house because so much of the old house is there.
... when I'm with mom because I remember how much you loved each other.
... because I feel how much mom misses you.
I think of you.

Be our guide, Daddy.
Even now that you're gone, impart your wisdom.
Make us feel in our hearts the right thing to do.
Help us to encourage.
... to say I love you often.
... to be passionate about our work.
... to life to the full.
... to love God.
... to love country.
... to love family.
... to love others.
Help us.

I love you, Daddy!
I yearn to hear your voice say "I love you too!"
I miss your kiss on both cheeks and the big tight embrace.
Don't worry about me and Beau and Mom.
We'll be ok.
I promise.

Who is Prodigal? Who is the Lost Son?

Thank you, prodigal Father that you forgive, forgive 

and then forgive the self-righteous lost sons of the world.

prodigal

PROD'IGAL, a. [L. produgus, from prodigo, to drive forth, to lavish.]

1. Given to extravagant expenditures; expending money or other things without necessity; profuse, lavish; wasteful; not frugal or economical; as a prodigal man; the prodigal son. A man may be prodigal of his strength, of his health, of his life or blood, as well as of his money.

2. Profuse, lavish; expended to excess or without necessity; as prodigal expenses.

3. Very liberal; profuse. Nature is prodigal of her bounties.

- Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary

I have Much More To Tell You

My college girl.

She left early for her first college class this morning. "Stay in the car," she insisted. Well, I didn't plan on going down anyway.  I just wanted to make sure everything was alright, wait with her until someone familiar would come and be an encouragement if she needed one. 

I remember bringing her to nursery school for the first time. She didn't want me to leave the classroom. She sobbed and sobbed and wanted me to stay. How time flies!  

The tug of war of life: then I shoved her forward, now I must pull back.

She's ready to take on the world, my pretty, funny and intense daughter.   I sometimes panic thinking that she'll be on her own out there in a world that offers an array of options. Will she be happy?  Will she choose well? 

I remember what my own mother told me before I set out for something similar: "I can only teach you everything I know about how to live but in the end I can only pray that you make the right choices."

May the Lord be with you, my child.  May He guide you where His light shines and lead you to the right choices.  And may you go through life knowing that you will always find a friend in me.

"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now... 

the Spirit of truth, He will guide you to all truth."

- John 16:12-13