It is a beautiful world and we see but a small portion of the bigger picture, which is even more awesome in its beauty and its goodness. There are always abundant signs that point to a bigger and more magnificent reality. Where there is smoke, there is fire as its source; then all the beauty and goodness around us must point to a similar source. If dark clouds augur the coming of a storm and behind each storm a silver lining; then consolation and joy will also eventually dispel the clouds and darkness in our lives.
It was Pope John XXIII who first spoke about reading the signs of the times. God moves on earth and He leaves behind a trail of signs of where He has passed through. Good Pope John called us to read these signs and follow where the Lord has trod on in our lives. He did and he brought about changes the Church like no other Pope in recent memory.
Today is the anniversary of the historic EDSA Revolution, when and where Peaceful People Power became a reality. It was a sign of God being incarnated once more in our times. For four blessed days, the Lord walked that stretch of highway with His mother. No one saw them and yet everyone knew they were there: people, practically strangers to one another, arms locked together to form a barricade against tanks; people keeping vigil in prayers to guard the rebels in their lairs; endless stream of food coming as if from nowhere to feed the millions who were there; soldiers refusing to fire on the defenseless civilians while young students offered them food and flowers instead; not one act of violence and not a single casualty reported. God was with us on EDSA. We knew because of the signs.
A great temptation is to ask God for a sign of His presence. Rather, I ask for the grace of discernment for me to see the signs that He leaves in my life of His abiding and loving presence.