Yet, Love

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Spirit Moments

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A tree silently grows
saying nothing, doing nothing,
in time, it bears fruits.

 

 

 

Man, like the rest of creation, needs food to keep alive. Yet some people create such delicious dishes that more than just keep us alive but are also meant to be shared in happiness with others. Our eyes were made to see. Yet there are those that capture sights that are shared in paintings or photography which inspire others. Our ears were made for hearing. Yet there are those who create harmonious sounds that warm the heart when sang with others. We can smell to tell us what is around us. Yet this smell also tells us someone dear is near. What is ordinary in creation is often taken for granted. Yet it can become extraordinary in our when done with and in love. Love transforms and changes people, places, things and events. Something may be ordinary or even considered a bane or a burden. Yet love can transform and change it into something extraordinary and even a blessing.  Milton, on his blindness, wrote: “They also serve who only stand and wait.”
~ February 14, 2012

 

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Life’s Daily Miracles

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Spirit Moments

 

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Biomimicry.
I look at nature’s charm
And she teaches me.

 

 

 

“If life is a daily miracle, why am I so insistent in looking for a sign of God’s presence in my life? A baby needs no words nor any other sign than the warm embrace of the mother to know that she is present to ease his pains or allay his anxieties. My ears have been deafened by all the noise around me. My eyes have been blinded by the glitter of false gold and fake treasures. My heart has been hardened by the many little cares I have burdened myself with. I have been jaundiced by my pride, selfishness and greed. I only need to see the grandeur there is in nature or the goodness there is people I have been blessed with to realize that there is a loving Presence that guides and leads my daily life into untold and often unseen miracles.”
~ February 13, 2012

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Life Is A Gift

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Spirit Moments

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A fawn by the spring
laps at the waters for life,
We share the gift.

 

 

 

One of the deepest truth in my life is that fact that I am not a random event. I did not come into existence as a fortuitous confluence of atoms and molecules. I have been willed into existence deliberately and lovingly. And everyday, I am consciously re-gifted with this life in love. My prayer: ‘….but only say the word and I shall be healed and be made whole.’ When I begin to realize and appreciate this daily miracle, everything around me takes on the aura of the sacred and the divine.
~ Feb. 12, 2012

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Mysterium Tremendum et Fascinans

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Spirit Moments
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Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
Luke 4:21-22

Reflecting on this Sunday’s Gospel, Fr. Johnny Go shared that doubt is not exactly the opposite of faith; for sometimes it is in our darkest moments of doubting that we see the true light of faith. Indeed, doubts are the force that keep us swinging back and forth from belief to unbelief. And that despair is not exactly the opposite of hope; for it is sometimes in moments when everything seems lost that we find the courage to rise up and make one final effort to get over the hump of our desperation. Indeed, despair is dark force that pushes us into the glimmering of hope. And that hatred is not exactly the opposite of love; for sometimes it is the blinding impetus of hatred that propels us into the shimmering power of love. Indeed, it is sometimes with the same people that we experience the intensity of both love and hatred.

Instead, Fr. Johnny suggested that the real enemies and destroyers of faith, hope and love are certitude and overfamiliarity. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” the people of Nazareth said. They thought they knew who Jesus was and knowing him, thought they could tell what he was supposed to do. They expected Him to do His miracles among them. Of course, He did not and instead chastised them. “When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.”

It is a familiar Gospel story. But it is exactly what happened in my life. When I went into my cardiac operation five months ago, I thought I knew the Lord and that I had an intimate relationship with Him. My prayer as I was wheeled into the operating room was, “Lord, we are  in this together. Help me get through this as easily as possible.” It was not with humble faith nor with a faithful humility that I said these words. It was with the cocky entitlement of a very presumptuous and even demanding believer. The Lord did me a Nazareth. When the operation was over, I expected the Lord to make pain to be bearable. It was not. I expected Him to make it go away. It did not. I expected Him to console me with His presence. He was absent. I felt my faith melting away. I was eaten by despair and despondency. I was hitting out in anger and hatred even at the one human person on earth who love me like no other – Anabelle.

I was at the height of my pride and I turned away from my spiritual life and exercises. I stopped praying. I tried to make it on my own. I had become so certain and overfamiliar with my God. I thought I knew Him. I thought I owned Him. But slowly and subtly, the Lord coaxed me back. It was our hikes and communing with nature that proved valuable. Standing before the vista of nature, there was a presence and an awareness that was there before me – mysterium tremendum et fascinans, a presence and an awareness that people down the ages have worshipped and adored as God.

Looking out into immensity of the sea, or wondering at the grandeur of the mountains, or gaping at the splendor of the fields, I am overwhelmed by feelings that I am loved, that I am precious and that I matter. All this beauty is for me to enjoy and appreciate. I wish I could capture it all in the palm of my hands. But no. Rather he who created all this has me in the palm of his hand. I wish I could comprehend it all and capture it in my thoughts. But no. Rather I am a thought, a word, a name in the mind of this Omnipotent and Almighty God.

There is mystery that talks to me. He intimates to me all the beauty, goodness and truth that He is. Yet, I cannot fully comprehend it all. I do not even understand it all. This makes me fearful and uncomfortable. And yet, this mystery keeps on calling me into an intimate relationship. I have been in the depths of doubts and despair. These bouts have not destroyed my faith, nor my hopes, nor my love. But instead these have made me stronger in faith, hope and love.

The mysterium tremendum et fascinans is slowly and subtly transforming my life.

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Seeds And Fruits

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Spirit Moments
And Jesus said to them,
” . . . . Those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it
and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” 
Mark 4:20

I have lived a fruitful and blessed life. I shall always be counting and forever be grateful for all the blessings that have come my way. It has been a long way from Angeles, where I grew up, to San Jose where I now live. Never in my wildest imaginings then could I ever have conjured up the people, the places and the events that have come into my life.

Like a seed that was sown, I grew into a tree. Like a tree that has grown, I have brought forth fruits. And the fruits that I have borne have been blessings to me and to the people that have been part of my life. I have been happy and thankful for the opportunity and privilege to have loved and served others.

Blessings are often seen as the many good things in our lives. Blessings are having more of these good things. But, as I grow older, blessings can also be about having less of the good things. For even plants and trees have to be pruned to stay healthy and productive.

Having less material possessions is a blessing. Then I can have more to give and share with others and I am less encumbered in my final journey. Having less fun and pleasure is a blessing. Then, I can attune myself to the joys in life that transcend the senses and prepare me for the next level which is beyond what can be perceived by the senses. Having less energy is a blessing. Then, I can slow done and be more aware of my surroundings, of nature, of the people who have loved and served, of the events that have made my life worthwhile and fruitful. Having less time is blessing. Then I can finally learn and understand the value of time and prepare me for a life that is beyond time and space.

Trees grow to bear fruits.
And fruits bear seeds of new trees.
Like so is my life.

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The Presence I Keep

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Spirit Moments
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:34-35

I am a great fan of the Golden State Warriors. I fell asleep last night replaying the blow-out shellacking of the Spurs. On my way to slumberland, I imagined again the three-point shots of Curry (6 out of 9), his steals (5 of them), his play-making assists (3). I just love watching Curry play and he was in my mind as I fell asleep. There is a certain connection between him and me. Yet, he does not even know that I exist and that I root for him every single game.

There are nights it is Jesus and God in my mind. I would fall asleep counting my blessings: the good things in my life that I never imagined I would have, the loving and caring people around me, the events of the day where things just simply fell into place like balls snugly fitting into exact holes. And as I finally lose myself in my sleep, my last thoughts are of Jesus, of God in my life. And when I wake up the next morning, I feel like I spent the whole night with God. And God knows me. He has called me by name. He has His name written all over the blessings in my life, in the people who have enriched my life, in the events of my life which I feel He directs and guides.

In my better and inspired moments, I hear the voice of Jesus saying of my loved ones, “Here are my mother, my brothers, my sisters.” And God is speaking, “You are my son. I am here with you now.”

As I fall asleep,
There is a presence I keep.
I’m alone with God. 

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A Place We Call Home

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Spirit Moments
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:15-18

When I look around, when I take a good look at the world, I often end up being depressed and driven to hopelessness. There are so many reasons to be sad at the sorry state of the world. We have never seen so much wealth and affluence in the history of men; but there are still billions of people living in hunger and poverty. We have such a beautiful and bountiful paradise to live in; but we keep on thrashing it, not realizing it is the only planet we have. Life is such a precious gift; but we keep on hurting and even killing one another.

For billions of years, the earth developed and unfolded pretty much on its own. From a blob of molten mishmash from the sun, it slowly moved evolved into the habitable place that we have today. When men appeared on the scene, things even got better, with each new generation living a little bit better that the previous one. Men have harnessed the bounty of the earth to feed, clothe and shelter themselves. We have captured and immortalized the beauty of the earth through the arts we have invented. Things have only gotten better.

And so I am moved to proclaim the Good News. In the face of all the hunger and poverty, due to all the greed and selfishness there is in the world; there is the Good News of Love. Men can go out and beyond themselves to care for and serve others. In the face of all the killing and the violence, due to all the anger, hatred and thirst for power; there is the Good News of Forgiveness. When we forgive, we can begin again to build this earth into an even more beautiful and lovely paradise.

There’s a lovely place,
A pretty blue dot in space,
A place we call home.
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Let Lives Live

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Spirit Moments

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Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, 
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. 
He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” 
Luke 4:20-21

I read this beautiful quote written on the tombstone of a beloved daughter: “Death is more universal than life. Everyone dies but not everyone lives.”

Yesterday, we joined the Walk for Life West Coast, calling for a stop to abortion. It is a sad commentary about our society that death for the unborn is a legal choice. It is indeed very tragic that some souls are killed even before they have had a chance to live. While choice is what distinguishes us animals, it is very deplorable that someone should die when somebody else makes a choice.

Life is a most beautiful gift. It is the most important gift. In fact, it is the only gift that matters. God has been very generous, in fact extremely generous to the point of being prodigal, is giving out life. One only has to look at the abundance and diversity in nature. Yet, man – in his desire to control nature – would limit life to just a number of animals and plants for food, or limit the population for just a number of people, or even eliminate those who are different or defenseless.

Because probably Nature displays so much abundance, we often look at blessings in terms of more and better. But we should look at blessings also in terms of less. Nature, even in her abundance, takes up only what is needed to sustain life. It is only men, who in their greed and selfishness would take more than what they need.

God speaks His word and His spoken word breathes forth life. In His time, His Word is fulfilled. I am a moment in God’s time. I should allow and make His Word fulfilled in my life.

Life is a given.
It’s never to be taken.
Let us let lives live.

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To Live Is To Give

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Spirit Moments
Jesus went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. Mark 3:13

Solitude and being alone does not make me uncomfortable. But I also immensely enjoy being with people. This is something I got from Ima. As a child, I remember her taking me along whenever she would go to visit her friends or family, and that was quite often.She also loved receiving and entertaining visitors. Having people come for a visit was never a bother for her, even when they come unannounced. She’d always have something some food and drinks to serve them. And more than the shared food, there were the stories that were exchanged.

Ima had a special place in her heart for the underdog, for those whom others maltreat or ride roughshod over. She is very caring and provides the bullied or the downtrodden a welcome refuge. She makes them feel they have a defender and an ally in her. But she could also be very demanding in return. She gives out a lot but she also expects a lot in exchange.

I have learned that when I give and relate to others out of my loneliness and aloneness, I tend to be clinging and grasping. I would selfishly demand attention and even care. It is when I relate to others out of my uniqueness and preciousness that I can foster healthy relationships. If I can respect the goodness in myself, I will see and appreciate the goodness there is in others. If I can see the Divine in others, I will not be demanding but loving that Divine spark in them. Then, love and respect guides our relationship.

Here’s a lesson to learn,
Life is meant for the sharing
For to live is to give.

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The One And The Many

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Spirit Moments
Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon.  Mark 3:8

The adulation of the crowds can be addicting. How many times have I seen people in the limelight get destroyed or come to tragic ends because they get spoiled by the masses? They get blinded by the fame, the power and the wealth that comes from all the praise, flattery and blandishments from the people and fans around them. But the crowds are often fickle, very transitory and many a time an illusion.

And yet, there is a reality to people being moved to action by some charismatic leaders. Such leaders often speak of something that we already know to be true deep in our hearts. They touch a chord within us that is capable of echoing in sympathetic vibrations to that which is truly noble and profoundly human. There is within us that seed for greatness and and significance that great leaders can sense and verbalize for us.

In my own experience, my words are most well received and appreciated when I speak honestly and sincerely from the depths of my heart. It is when I bare my soul and share what is uniquely me that I can inspire others and help them onward in their journey. For deep within us, we all have that spark of the Divine. It is when I am most myself that I am one with all.

Jesus drew crowds to Himself because He spoke the truth that everyone was hungering for. He brought them healing of the spirit that they were all seeking for. He showed them a fullness of life that they were all thirsting for. He knew that spark of the Divine in each one of them; because He is the Source.

When I am most myself,
I am most universal.
The one is the many.

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