SLOW DOWN, GOD AT WORK

About 10 years ago, when I transferred to Manila to pursue my college degree, I unconsciously buried my laid back lifestyle here in Cavite and worked hard to live up with the fast-paced flow of life in the Metro. I have learned how to love what is fast: fast cars, fast computers, fast transactions, and yes, even fast decisions.

Because I was into debating, I thought finding out the most “sound” argument and spitting it out is enough to “escape” a situation. But I was wrong, I realized that bluffing doesn’t work in the real world.

10 years later, Jesus put me into a state of pause and slowed me down. This year, the Lord made me realize that being “fast” isn’t always good.

During my hiatus, I talked to our pastor and he taught me probably the best lesson I learned this year: DOING DAILY DEVOTION.

For almost a year now, I have learned that communicating with God every morning, before doing anything else (yup, that includes brushing my teeth or drinking coffee), sets the day right.

Ptr. Marlon was right. Because of problems, we are fooled by Satan. We are made to think that our problem is so big that Jesus is no match to it. But hey! If we’ll just learn to SLOW DOWN a bit and reflect before we face the giant in front of us, we’ll be able to crush it down, just like what David did with Goliath! Why do we always force ourselves to solve a problem when we haven’t even tried the best and most effective solution of all? PRAYER

My daily Bible reading (well, of course, I would admit that I have missed some days) coupled with prayers slowed down my mornings. Before, I thought I don’t even have a time to stop for a while to pray because of my busy life. But I have realized that it’s just a matter of commitment.

Another realization that I have learned this year is the fact that most often, we only pray when we need something, but we forget to turn to God when everything is fine. I learned that even during our happiest moments, we should still talk to God. In a family or office, you wouldn’t be happy if your mother or father or boss, will only talk to you when there’s something wrong.

2011 was also a year of mythbusting experiences. They say when you start your year with “bad luck” the rest of the year will go wrong. WRONG! I started this year with hell, and ended it up victoriously through the help of Jesus! He used a lot of people to encourage me. I was reminded of Romans 8:1, that there is no more condemnation once we are in Jesus. The world will condemn us, but Jesus will embrace us if we humbly confess our sins to him and ask for his forgiveness—just like what he did with the robber beside him during the crucifixion. Our God is truly a loving father.

There’s so many more, but I guess I’ll reserve it to my next blogs. Ideas are juggled inside my head, and so many ideas and reminders are coming out, and I’m afraid that this blog might end up incoherent.

I’d like to end by sharing my last devotion for 2011:

⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

The world will persecute us. It will not be kind to us. It will discourage us. At times, we will fall, we will fail, we will falter, but never should we give up. Because if we really have Jesus in our hearts, then we should have a faith like a child, that NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE with our Big GOD!

Thank you for reading. Have a blessed new year ahead of you! 






ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:


I'd like to thank a number of people who helped me a lot this year (I hope not to miss anyone)


1. My Family (mama, papa, ate, kuya obin, nene, and Robbie!) 
2. Kay
3. My Cell Leader: Ptr. Marlon Choa and Ptra. Michel Choa
4. My Cell and the SK Praise and Worship team
5. Team Bucal (for the Basketball nights)
6. Paolo
7. Ali
8. ...and many more! (the Lord will be the one to return the blessings to you! =) )

Ang Pasko ng mga TUNAY na LALAKE

Nung Thursday sa aming cell sa Bucal, shinare ko ang mga bagay na natutunan ko sa aking pagdedevotion: at ito ay tungkol kay Jose na isang TUNAY na LALAKE.

Sa New Testament, hindi kasing detalyado at “sikat” ang buhay ni Jose kumpara sa ibang karakter sa Bibiliya. Masasabing ang pinakaimportanteng role niya ay para mabuo ang isang “happy family” na eksena sa Nativity story. Maraming posibleng analysis sa karakter ni Jose. Isa na dito ang perspektibo ng kultura at antropolohiya. Pwedeng sabihin natin na dapat nandoon siya sa eksena kase kung hinde, magiging bastardo si Jesus—isang bagay na hindi katanggap-tanggap sa kulturang Hudyo noong kapanahunan nila. In fact, ilang Bible scholars ang nakapagsabi na “stoning” o kamatayan sa pamamagitan ng pagbato ang kaparusahan sa pagiging haliparot o kaya single moms noong panahon ni Jesus.

Sa Matthew 1:18-25, matutunghayan natin ang maiksing kwento at role ni Jose buhay ni Jesus (at sa kwento ng Pasko). At sa blog na ito, nais kong magpokus sa karakter na ipinakita ni Jose upang matutunan kung ano o sino ba talaga ang TUNAY NA LALAKE. Isa-isahin natin ang mga verses.

• Verse 18: “…Si Maria na kanyang ina at si Jose ay nakatakda nang pakasal. Ngunit bago sila nakasal, si Maria’y natagpuang nagdadalang-tao. (Ito’y sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo.)”

Habang pinagbubulay-bulayan ko ang parteng ito, hindi ko maialis na ilagay ang aking sarili sa kalagayan ni Jose. E pano kaya kung sakin yun mangyare? Yun tipong ikakasal na kame ni Kay tapos malalaman kong buntis siya kahit wala namang nangyare sa amin? Grabe. Kung ako yon, baka makapatay ako.

Bukod dito, kahit ano’ng paliwanag sa akin na kaya siya nagdadalaang-tao ay dahil sa “pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo” hindi ako sira-ulo o lasing para paniwalaan na mabubuntis ang isang babae ng walang pisikal na pagtatalik. Aaminin kong magdududa ako. At baka magalit pa ako dahil dinahilan pa ang Diyos sa kanyang pagbubuntis.

Buti nalang hindi ako si Jose.

• Verse 19: “Isang taong matuwid itong si Jose na kanyang magiging asawa, ngunit ayaw niyang mapahiya si Maria, kaya’t ipinasiya niyang hiwalayan ito ng lihim.”

Para sa isang karpintero, masasabing may mataas na pinag-aralan si Jose. O kung hindi man, may maayos siyang “breeding” at “ethics”. Hindi kagaya ng mga weakling na lalake sa panahong ito, hindi siya nag-astang siga, kumuha ng itak (o kaya lagare kase karpintero siya) at nag-amok. Hindi siya naghamon ng “Sino’ng siga dito?! LUMABAS!” o kaya “Sinong pu@#$%^& ang gumalaw sa SYOTA KO! ILABAS NIYO!” Sa halip ay “hiniwalayan niya ito ng palihim”. Pwede natin isipin na si Jose ay di naman totally matuwid at mabait, kase kung ganon, baket niya hiniwalayan si Maria kahit na palihim pa ito? Sa puntong ito nakita ko ang pagiging tao ni Jose. Tao lamang siya na may damdamin; sigurado ako, nasaktan siya ng bonggang bongga. PERO, gaya ng sabi ko kanina, hindi siya nag-amok. Sa halip, lihim siyang humiwalay at nagbulay-bulay.

Hindi rin siya nagpakamatay; isa pang gawain ng mga lalakeng supot.

• Verse 20-21: “Habang iniisip ni Jose ito, nagpakita sa kanya sa panaginip ang isang anghel ng Panginoon. Sabi nito sa kanya, “Jose, anak ni David, huwag kang matakot na tuluyan pakasalan si Maria, sapagkat siya’y naglilihi sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo. Manganganak siya ng isang lalaki at pangangalanan mong Jesus, sapagkat siya ang magliligtas sa kanyang bayan sa kanilang mga kasalanan.”

Sa panahong hiniwalayan ni Jose si Maria, pwedeng isipin natin na baka nagpaka-Emo siya (di ko lang sure kung nagpagupit siya para magka-bangs at matakpan yung isang mata niya na may itim na eye shadow).

Hindi sinabi sa Bible kung naglasing siya. Pwede kasi natin isipin na baka naman hindi anghel yung nakausap ni Jose? Baka espiritu ni San Miguel yun, as in San Miguel Beer. Pero sa tingin ko, hindi lasing si Jose. Hindi ako Bible scholar, pero sa pagkakaalam ko lang, wala pang Gin bulag noon na kayang bilhin ng hamak na karpintero.

Sa verse 21, naisip kong baka badtrip si Jose habang nakikinig sa anghel. Pinipilit na nga siyang papaniwalain na ang pinagbubuntis ni Maria ay galing sa Holy Spirit, diniktahan pa siya sa kung ano ang ipapangalan! Pero si Jose ay may breeding at ethics. Kalmado lang siya. Hindi siya sumagot o di kaya’y nagreklamo. Quiet lang ang lolo mo.

• Verse 22-23: “Nangyari ang lahat ng ito upang matupad ang sinabi ng Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng propeta: Maglilihi ang isang dalaga at manganganak ng isang lalaki, at tatawagin siyang Emmanuel (ang kahuluga’y ‘kasama natin ang Diyos’)”

Sa verses 22-23 makikita natin ang dagdag na paliwanag ng Anghel kay Jose na kanya namang pinakinggan at inintindi. Hindi siya nagtanong or nakipagbargain. Pinakamahalaga ang huling dalawang verses…

• Verse 24-25: “Nang magising si Jose, sinunod niya ang utos ng anghel ng Panginoon; pinakasalan niya si Maria. Ngunit hindi ginalaw ni Jose si Maria hanggang sa maipanganak nito ang isang sanggol na lalaki na pinangalanan niyang Jesus.

Sa pagtatapos ng maikling salaysay tungkol sa kwento ng pagkapanganak ni Jesus, mahalagang bigyang pansin ang PAGSUNOD ni Jose: no ifs, no  buts, basta sumunod siya. Baket kaya? Dahil kaya lasing siya? Palagay ko hinde, kasi kung lasing siya kinabukasan matatauhan na siya diba? Pero sumunod siya dahil meron siyang matibay na pananampalataya sa Diyos.

At take  note, hindi lang niya sinunod yung parte na papakasalan niya si Maria. Hindi pa sila nagtalik ni Maria! Kung sa panahon ngayon, pihadong tampulan ng katatawanan si Jose ng mga nag-aastang “tunay” na lalake. Naiputan na nga sa ulo, hindi pa naka-iskor!

Pero naging matatag si Jose sa kanyang pananampalataya at nanindigan siya. Sinunod niya ang Diyos hanggang sa huli. Hindi gaya ng mga nasa teleserye na pagkatapos ipanganak ay ipinaampon o kaya tinapon ang baby, si Jose ay naging responsible at mabuting ama. In fact, sa mga susunod na yugto ng buhay ni Jesus ay ipinamalas ni Jose ang kanyang pagmamahal kay Jesus: mula sa pagprotekta kay Jesus sa mga kamay ni Haring Herodes (Matthew 2:16), hanggang sa noong siya ay maiwan sa Jerusalem noong si Jesus ay 12 years old (Luke 2:41-52).

Mahalaga ang role na ginampanan ni Jose sa buhay ni Jesus. Pero sa totoo lang, sa kabila nito, ang paalaala sa akin ng Lord sa aking devotion ay hindi i-venerate si Joseph sa kanyang ginampanang role. Kundi ang gawin siyang model ng isang Tunay na Lalake: may paninindigan, marunong magmahal (sa asawa at sa anak), at higit sa lahat, may matibay na pananampalataya sa Diyos.

Ngayong pasko, bukod sa mga regalo at parties, sana ay maalala natin kung baket ba ito mahalaga. Hindi ito isang celebration dahil may bonus o kung ano pa man. Ito ay celebration dahil ang kapanganakan ni Jesus ay nangangahulugan ng kaligtasan; ng kadakilaan ng Diyos na nagpakababa upang tayo’y abutin.

Ngayong pasko, huwag sana natin kalimutang mag-Thank You kay Jesus. Hindi dahil sa pagkaing nakahain sa ating harapan o sa regaling ating natanggap, kundi dahil sa Kanyang buhay na kanyang inialay sa mga makasalanang tao na kagaya natin.

Isang mapagpalang pasko sa lahat, mula sa isang makasalanang iniligtas ni Jesus!

Embracing Chaos

Looking back at the riots and rumbles that I have “participated” in way back high school, I admit that I still do not understand man’s quest for chaos. While majority of the social norms and morals would teach us to seek peace and spread love for each other, it seems that the animal in each human species kick in like a recessive gene hiding within an individual’s blood streams.

We seem to like inflicting pain to ourselves (sometimes to other people too) with the way we make choices and decisions.

It’s true that leaving something behind is very difficult to do. This may be the case since from Scouting to Citizen’s Army Training (C.A.T.), to Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (R.O.T.C.), we have been implanted with the negative impressions that “quitting” creates. “Quitters never win” is what we normally hear from our militaristic leaders.

While in some cases this saying may be acceptable, it is NOT applicable to all situations. In some cases, quitting is actually an act of courage because it is something difficult to do and in some cases, being frowned upon. Some of the many examples are the following:

Smokers who quit smoking

Alcoholics who quit drinking

Drug dependents who quit taking illegal drugs

People who quit relying on themselves (and instead surrendering everything to God)

I cannot help but compare the way Filipinos take the concept of “quitting” with the Japanese culture known as “giri”.  Of course, they are not synonymous, but the results that giri could create may lead towards “honourable” quitting. I have limited understanding about this, but roughly speaking, giri may be translated as “duty” or “obligation”. From what I understand, the highest type of giri is the giri to the world (which includes the emperor, i.e. the government, family, and other non-related benefactors)

Just this year, we witnessed how Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed his giri when he resigned from his post as the highest political figure of Japan after his approval ratings had a nose-dive following the tsunami and nuclear crisis of Japan early this year.

You might argue: “Well, we had the same acts of resignations. Remember former Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez and former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri?” Yeah, well they resigned from their post as Ombudsman and Senator respectively, but only after too much pressure and imminent danger (i.e. being on the brink of imprisonment) loomed. Their decision could have been more laudable if they did it out of respect and honor instead of pressure and dolor.

At present, we don’t see a tinge of the ex-ombudsman and ex-sentaor’s decisions with the way Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo takes her situation. Instead, we could observe the same resilience (or temerity?) that GMA has shown in her nine-year reign with the way she continues to “fight for her right” and delay things regarding her hospital arrest. For Gloria, “quitters never win”. But her camp has probably missed a probability on the other side of her battle cry: that not quitting doesn’t necessarily lead to winning.

In modern Philippine culture that is greatly influenced by Western thought, I still cannot comprehend why we seem to have disposed the equivalent of giri in our nation: the concept of hiya, and how we happily embrace chaos.