The Two Sons – The Prodigal and The Dutiful

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Spirit Moments

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Great music always has a familiar sound to it. The melody sounds like something we have heard before even if we are hearing it for the first time. Great truths also have a familiar ring to them; because we already know these deep in our hearts. Looking at the awesome rock formations in the Fantastic Caverns in Kansas was for me a spiritual experience in a very material environment. I encounter God in my here and now. He has left so many signs all over the place for me not to notice him.

An open and empty space. Mineral-laden water dropping from the ceiling. In time, something of awesome beauty rises from the cavern floor. Same materials, same space, same time. And yet two totally different structures emerge. Equally beautiful, equally awesome, yet as like as chalk and cheese.

Two sons. From the same father. Born under the same circumstances. Reared in the same environment. Cared for with the same love and affection. Yet, one grows up prodigal and the other dutiful. The prodigal son discovers his father’s boundless love and mercy in the emptiness of his dissolute living. The dutiful son, so full of himself, failed to see the same love and mercy in his self-righteous obedience to his father.

It is only in openness and emptiness that I can grow spiritually. I must make open and empty spaces in my life to make room for God to come in. I need not leave where I am or what I am. God meets me in my here and now. In my wretchedness, there will be many opportunities for openness and emptiness. In my abundance, I have to take care not to be full of things that needlessly occupy space in my life, events that distract me on my journey and people that would lead me down the wrong path.

Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.  After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.”
Luke 15:1-32

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The Pain of Believing

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Spirit Moments

I am sad and my soul grows weary when I read about the fighting in Zamboanga: the senselessness of it all, children being used as human shields, thousands being thrown out of their homes, our leaders scrambling, confused and confounded rather than determined and single-minded, to put the rebellion down. Ah our leaders! I get even sadder and my souls grows even wearier when I think of how they having been duping and stealing from the people they have sworn to serve. How can they filch billions for themselves when there are millions of us who go to bed hungry every night, with no shelter over their heads and threadbare clothes as flimsy protection against the elements? Where is the God of Justice who will serve them their just deserts?

I am bewildered and confused as I watch the events unfold in Syria where a despotic leader thinks nothing of killing his own people. And yet, I am fearful for the Christian minorities who cower in fear should the rebels win for that would mean even more hardships and more bitter persecutions against them. Where is the God of Love and Peace who promised the lions will graze with the lambs?

Why is there more bad news than good news in what we see and read? Where is the news about the thousands of Gawad Kalinga volunteers who are changing lives and communities, house by house and family by family? Where is the news about my many friends who are engaged in development work helping build institutions, create systems and putting up infrastructures to help the poor? Why is the Pope’s voice and cry for justice, peace and love often drowned out by shouts of anger and hatred calling for war and revenge?

Life is fragile and it is made even more so by the greed, selfishness and anger of men. I keep praying and hoping for eternal life, as promised by Christ. There are times I fear I am hoping and praying in vain. For what happens in the world is also happening within me. I want peace, love and justice to rule my life. But I often give in to greed, selfishness, anger and hating. After all these years, I have changed and yet have remained the same.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’
John 3:13-17

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Unique and Special

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Spirit Moments

I have always loved being a teacher
I have found great joy and fulfillment in teaching
Oh but I hate being directive and dogmatic
Truth is universal; but everyone has his own truth
I don’t relish being told what to do
I consciously refrain telling others what to do
Rather let us discuss and discover with the truth in things and people
Let us see options and possibilities together
And then maybe come to a common conclusion or decision together
If not, let us agree to disagree agreeably.

Each person has his own truth
His own unique story to live and to tell
I love listening to the life stories of others
Often inspired, sometimes humbled
But always the better for having encountered another
For we have been all created one of a kind
A lot of similarities bind between us
Yet there in no other quite like me or you.

Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?”
Luke 6:39-42

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The Golden Rule and More

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Spirit Moments

‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.’ Luke 6: 27-31

We were at a Landry’s bistro in Branson over the weekend and we were served by the most wonderful waiter I have ever encountered. He was warm, attentive, and very helpful without being patronizing nor supercilious as I often see in waiters in such fancy places. When I commented how impressed and appreciative I was of his service; he simply said with a warm, almost affectionate smile, “I just treat all my guests exactly the same way I want to be treated.” I could immediately tell that he also had a very healthy self-image and a strong self-respect. The wisdom behind the Golden Rule is so intuitive, not requiring any elaborate reasoning to prove. Yet, the world struggles to comprehend and stumbles over it. This world would be a much better place to live in if only more people truly lived by the Golden Rule. As it is, he who has the gold makes the rules. It is all about power and possessions.

‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6: 35-36

It is easy to apply the Golden Rule to those who are nice to us. it is east to be good to those who are good to us and love us. The world stumbles when Christ challenges us to apply the Golden Rule to our enemies and to those who hate us for that would mean having to forgive these people. When somebody has hurt us or caused us great pain, our knee jerk reaction and gut deep desire is for revenge and to get even. But unless we are willing to forgive those our enemies and those who have offended us, the Golden Rule is impossible to practice.

‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’ Luke 6: 37-38

These words of Christ are so self-evident they are blinding in their truth. I look at what is happening in Syria and in Zamboanga back home in the Philippines. It is all about power and possessions. How different it would be if people practiced the Golden Rule. We have the answer to the ills of the world but we refuse to listen. We can rid our world of all its troubles but we have allowed our hearts to turn into stones, our eyes blinded by materialism, our ears deaf to all but our own cries and our hands clenched in fists to fight instead of being open to give and to help.

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Life Blessings

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Spirit Moments

Life is the greatest blessing. It is a precious gift, undeserved and generously given. Even when things get rough and tough times come, it is still better to be alive rather than non-existent. Everything therefore that gives life is a blessing. When I choose life, when I treasure it and make it grow, when I share it and nurture it in others, I give out blessings. People who make our lives richer and happier are a blessing. Events that make us whole and make us better are blessings

Events that destroy life are a curse. People who would choose death over life are a curse. When we do not live our life with the love that was planted in our hearts, we become a curse to others. When we cause misery and pain to others, we become a curse to them. It seems unthinkable but it is real that there are people who would choose to give curses instead of blessings.

Yet, there is a deep paradox here. 9/11 was definitely a curse. The men who hijacked those planes must have been cursing the world and their enemies as they flew them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Yet, in the midst of the devastation and the resulting misery, there were a lot of blessings. The firefighters who risked life and limb to save and rescue others were a blessing. The doctors, nurses and ordinary people who risked harm’s way just to help and save the injured were all a blessing. The outpouring of caring and concern were all moments of blessing.

This is the paradox of the cross. The cross was the supreme curse, reserved only for the worst and most hardened criminals. Yet, by Christ’s will and obedience, it was transformed into an even greater blessing. It has become the tool and the key to life everlasting. This great blessing is difficult to comprehend. My mind boggles trying to embrace it. Yet, in my heart, I long for a life that is free of curses. I hope, pray and believe that my poverty and emptiness will someday be filled; that my hunger and thirst will one day be satisfied; that my tears and sorrow will one day turn to joy and laughter; that my longing to be complete and be one with my Source will one day come to pass.

Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.‘Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven.’
Luke 6:20-26

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Proactivity and Prayer

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Spirit Moments

One of the valuable lessons I have learned from Stephen Covey is the practice of proactivity – the ability to put a space between the stimulus and the actions I take. The best way to exercise proactivity, I have learned, is through prayer. In prayer, I pause before taking action and before choosing which course of action is God’s will for me, which option will best express the principles and the values I have centered my life on.

Before Christ started his public ministry, he spent forty days in prayer in the desert. Before he chose his apostles, he spent the night in prayer. Before he entered into his passion, he prayed in the Garden. Every time, he sought what was the will of the Father for him.

“Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles.”
Luke 6:12-17

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Life Is About Choices

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Spirit Moments

Most of my life, I had dreams of doing great things, doing my share in changing the world, turning around organizations and institutions, inspiring individuals to becomes better. I realize now how pretentious and prideful those dreams are. The world is good as it is for it comes from God.

Now, I may not be able to do great things but I do good things. I can choose to be a force for goodness and not do harm or I can be an agent of evil. I can choose to save life and preserve it and even make it more and better or I can choose to destroy life or minimize it. I can choose to give and speak blessings or I can choose to give curses.

When I see the goodness in others, I give blessings. When I choose to see what is bad or wrong in others, I give curses. When I help and care for others, I choose life. When I do not care and give in to apathy, I choose death.

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?”
Luke 6:6-11

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My Life As A Stalagmite

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Spirit Moments

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Stalagmites are formed by the constant dripping of countless water droplets rich in minerals from the ceilings to the floors in caverns. They are formed in the silence and the darkness, deep in the bowels of the earth. Droppings, darkness, the depths, can anything good or beautiful come out of these? Bit by bit, the droplets fall. Till one day, Mother Nature produces a marvel of awesome beauty and enormous proportions.

Often, I define the value of something, or sometimes even someone, by the end product. A happy moment, a successful event, an accomplished person. These are what I want to see and have. But the real marvel and miracle happen during the many precious moments of a long and arduous process to produce the end. The water droplets, dripping constantly in the empty darkness and the silent depths, would never see the purpose nor the process that produces the awesome stalagmite rising from the cavern floor in all its awesome splendor.

There are similar moments of darkness and emptiness in my life. Often, I find myself alone. There are times I feel like sinking in a bottomless quagmire of desolation and purposelessness. I am battered by the countless and constant dripping of small and mundane problems.There would be people and events that would make the darkness even darker and the emptiness even emptier. There are times when the drops become a torrent and the resulting deluge would almost sweep me into oblivion.

I long for the love and care of my loved ones. I hunger for the affection and attention of family and friends. Life is difficult and the road seems peppered with crosses along the way. I long for company who will share my crosses. I long for people who would care to help me carry these crosses. Caring people and my loved ones would try to shield me from the drops or take away my crosses. But that would be like pulling out the pupa out of its cocoon even before it is ready to stretch out its wings as a butterfly.

Yet, in the depths and darkness of the cavern, no help ever comes. The unrelenting drops of water just keep on coming. Until in the dark emptiness and during that deep silence, a miracle happens and the marvel of the stalagmite sculpture is created.

My life is a constant series of precious moments where God shapes me and creates me into the marvel and miracle he has destined me to be. There will be darkness, solitude and crosses along the way. I will trust that even in the depths he is creating in me another of His creations of awesome beauty and miraculous marvel. His love is enough for me.

“He turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. . . . So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.'”
Luke 14:25-30,33

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God is in His Heavens

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Spirit Moments

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Yesterday was a God-is-in-His-heaven-and-all’s-right-with-the-world kind of day. It indeed reminded me of Pippa’s song by Robert Browning:

           THE year’s at the spring,
           And day’s at the morn;
           Morning’s at seven;
           The hill-side’s dew-pearl’d;
           The lark’s on the wing;
           The snail’s on the thorn;
           God’s in His heaven—
           All’s right with the world!

I was with my loved one and my best friend and this was the sight that I beheld as we were going on a road trip. The beauty of the day had me wishing I could add a new color to the rainbow, more vibrant and more joyful. I wish I could create a new emotion that would say happy and fulfilled in a novel fashion. I even wanted to dare plumbing the depths of sadness and sorrow and be not afraid, certain that everything in life would eventually explode into a scene like this. I wish I could be one with these solitary and silent trees and just experience all the life force flowing through them and happening all frond. I wish I could be flow silently with the stream nearby on its lonesome journey to the sea, sometimes murmuring over stones, sometimes singing with the fish swimming in it, confident of finally reaching the great ocean of life.

My God is the Lord all creation. He is Lord of everything around me. And He is the Lord of all that is in me.

“. . . . some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” Jesus answered, “. . . . The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”
Luke 6:1-5

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Perfect Combinations

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Spirit Moments

There are certain things in life that do not just go together, like oil and water never mix. But there are also certain things that, as we struggle through life, seem to go naturally together, like blood sweat and tears.

Love and accounting never go together. In love, one never keeps score nor count the cost nor prepare a profit and loss statement. Love and marriage, on the other hand, go together like a horse and carriage.

A life of leisure is a contradiction in terms and a chimera of an objective. For life is about the constant straining and struggling to grow and become more and better. Life is a constant repetitive progression of ups and downs, win and loss, tears and joys.

A few notes strung randomly together will produce a discordant sound but blended together with purpose and inspiration will bring forth a lovely melody. Random actions may sometimes please but will disappoint in the long run. Purpose-driven and inspired actions will bring lasting joy and abiding happiness

And no one puts new wine into old wine-skins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, ‘The old is good.'”
Luke 5:33-39

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