Consumed

Ate Thammie Sy's blog post last week, How He Loves Us, reminded me of a portion of the conversation I had with that young Bhutanese gentleman in my When It Hurts entry.

Here goes:

"All religions are alike," said Mr. P. "They have different names and culture. It's doesn't matter whether you believe in Yahweh, Buddha or Allah. They teach about a certain way or a road or a path but all these leads to one destination. Heaven. Nirvana. Paradise."

To him, that is the truth. I knew and felt otherwise. My insides revolted. I just knew my God is different. And He is real. My mind raced to grasp for words to tell this person or should I say anything at all?


The "S" Personality in me said I should nod simply and smile politely. But no, I couldn't contain what I feel about God.

That's it.

"My God is different because He loves."

He frowned.

"You're right, all religions teach a certain way: to be good to your neighbors; to pray and meditate; and, to offer your life for a cause. God is pleased with all of these but the motivation for His love is not based on our worthiness but on His eternal grace. He died for us while we were still sinners."

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8 

 "God knows the number of our hairs. He knows our greatest eccentricities and still loves us the same. He died for us to live. Do you know that? It even takes more that head knowledge to understand this. You have to feel it for yourself."

Mr. P shrugged. He didn't seem convinced. I didn't expect him to. The Gospel is not purely an intellectual matter. It involves the heart and, through the Holy Spirit, God alone can touch a person's heart.

Photo: GraceHead.com

That night, he was leaving in a few days time. All I could do was to hope that he will take home this simple yet mind-blowing truth: God loves. 

Creating Ripples

How influential are you?

I haven’t blogged for a while. One, I was team leader for two weeks. Two, I don’t know what to blog. My stream of thoughts is running rapidly as always. Too rapid, I can’t catch anything.

Let me just give you an update of the past two weeks’ events. As I’ve said, I was team leader beginning last week until my-boss-knows-when. This means I have to supervise other members of the Training Team as they manage their respective trainings. I only have two people under my supervision. These are what I learned so far: being a leader is a big responsibility and the most difficult person to supervise is myself.

And ever heard the verse: From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48, NIV)

Simultaneously, I was handling my own training of three professors from the Royal Institute of Management in Bhutan. The three gentlemen are here for a short Training of Trainers course to equip themselves with the latest technologies and techniques in teaching. It is such a privilege to be their training coordinator because I have under my care three of the most influential people in this happy nation. They’ve been teaching for around two decades now and the amazing thing about that is some of our previous trainees undergone their tutelage. I applauded them for their dedication and encouraged them to never tire of teaching.

Every one of us is a teacher. We transfer what we have to others. As a mother, we play a great role in shaping the future of our child/children. As a volunteer in church, we disciple someone, we teach in kids' church, we lead a small group. As a brother/sister, we affect our siblings. As a friend, we influence others in the circle.

As a pebble tossed in the water creates ripple, so does a teacher touching the minds and souls of the students creates impact in their lives. The simple little things we do make a lot of difference in someone else’s life. The overwhelming thing about that is we are not limited to simple little things; many learners have been entrusted to us. Just imagine what a great forest we can create by selflessly planting ourselves today as tiny seeds.

The question is what kind of impact are we leaving?

I will go back to that verse:

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."  

(Luke 12:48, NIV)

As for me, I will leave footprints of love in the hearts of my students as I follow the example of the greatest teacher ever: Jesus Christ.

Ang Paghihintay ng Jeep sa Anonas

Aurora Blvd. cor Anonas St.

Ang paghihintay ng jeep sa Anonas ay parang paghihintay sa pag-ibig.

Matagal. Nakakainip. Nakakapagod.

Kailangan tumayo at maghintay ng ilang minuto; kapag maulan, ng ilang oras.

Minsan, mas gusto mo na lang sumakay sa kahit anong jeep na hihinto sa harap mo, iba man ang destinasyon. Iniisip mo, mag-dalawang sakay ka man, ayos lang, makarating ka rin sa paroroonan. Pero anong nangyari? Napalayo ka. Dumoble ang pamasahe mo. Mas humaba ang byahe.

Minsan, nang may papalapit na jeep, inakala mong iyon na. Hindi pa pala. Sa iba pa din ang patungo. O kaya puno na, hindi ka na kasya. Pwera na lang kung gusto mong sumabit.

Madalas, dahil dyan, kahit may malaking

When It Hurts

One evening, a young Bhutanese trainee approached me. I secretly wished he wouldn't initiate a conversation; I was too tired after a long day of work. But he did and, asking if I love reading, instantly established a common ground. We talked about Mitch Albom, Paulo Coelho, Thomas Friedman's The Flat World, and Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code which led us to the topic I would rather avoid: religion.

Though I work for a faith-based organization declaring Jesus Christ as the CEO, we are still bound by professionalism not to evangelize. I prayed quickly, "Lord, I'm not an expert in this. Help me know what to say."

I remembered it’s not about religion but relationship.

I simply shared my faith. Surprisingly, he didn’t contest the existence of God as others before him did.

He mused, “I’ve read that throughout history, people look for God more only during sufferings – wars, famine and disasters.”

“It’s a sad reality.”

“Why are there such troubles in the first place? If God is all-knowing and powerful, why does he let bad things happen even to good people? Think about this: what if He intentionally causes all these so more people will seek and worship Him?”

I knew he meant to make me rethink my convictions. The next morning, preparing the lecture room, I asked, “God, where were you?”

I know that You are good; my breath is not enough to praise You. But I can’t deny that pain and suffering are real.

Where are you when a child in Africa dies of hunger or in a war-torn country; when my best friend’s only sister hung herself at seventeen; or, when a step-father molests an eight year old?

It was a Habakkuk 1:3 moment:

“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong, why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”

The answer came to me in 3 points:

1. God didn't cause pain and suffering.

Remember, when God created Adam and Eve, they were well-provided for in Eden. They needed not to worry about what to eat or wear. Yet, they decided to disobey and sin. God had to bring justice; they were sent out to work for a living. Despite that, God remained compassionate. He gave them clothes. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

2. God has always been with us.

Like eureka, a picture of a man dying on the cross came to mind. His compassion didn't end inside Eden. It was mankind’s decision to lie, covet and murder, thus deserved death. For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23) Yet He sent Jesus Christ to experience every kind of pain and humiliation. He took the punishment for us all, bearing upon himself all kinds of physical and emotional beating.

Now, do I dare to ask God? He’s there with us in every tear we shed, every pang of hunger we endure and every pain we suffer. The good news is He didn't suffer for nothing; He suffered and died to save us from the aftermath of our wrongdoings. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (I Peter 2:24)

3. God is not a genie.

Many of us think He is, hoping he’d tell us, “Your wish is my command!” When things don’t go our way, we are disappointed and doubt His goodness. So why won’t He take away pain? Our human brain can’t contain the vastness of God’s wisdom. We aren't designed to understand or explain His greatness. One thing I know: As fire tests gold, trials tests our character.

Even if our pains don’t go away, do we question God?

Raissa Laurel, a 24-year-old Law student from San Sebastian College, supported the hopeful lawyers last September 2010 Bar Exam, was one of those injured after an explosion.

As a nurse, I cared for emergency patients with multiple injuries. They were all writhing in pain. Raissa was extraordinary. Being transported to the hospital, she sang and praised God. For the past 3 weeks, I complained about a huge pimple at the tip of my nose. It was painful and my self-nursing diagnosis was: Disturbed body image related to impaired skin integrity. But Raissa, legs mangled, sang and praised God!

Raissa inspiring the youth at Ignite 2011

She lost both her legs. With a promising career ahead, she had all the reasons to question and blame God. But in her interviews and testimonies, she said: “God saved me from the tragedy... He has greater plans for me than I have for myself.” She believes God has a purpose for everything. 

Now, she’s walking again with artificial limbs, inspiring others with her remarkable courage and faith.

My prayer is that God would give me the same heart; that I may trust in His unfailing love and praise Him even if life hurts.

When The Fire Grows Cold

I meant to post this blog last Saturday but I had a very short time to complete it and the laptop's battery I'm using gave up on me. Ang daming sinabi. Here it is:

May 28, 2011

I only have a few hours to compose, edit and publish this post. I'll be leaving for Cuneta Astrodome. Today is the third and last day of Ignite, the 3-day Campus Conference of LifeBox. Visit the site here for more info: http://ignite.ph/.

To say it was exhilarating is an understatement. I have received many take home points already. I wanted to blog about every point because each of them hit home run to my heart. But as of now, the one that made it to the top of my list is this:

We all have the tendency to grow cold.
-Pastor Daniel Trinidad

It was a cold hard truth slapped to my face. It was a truth that I don't just know know it. I have lived it. It happened to me.

I met Jesus in my Christian high school. I remember praying the prayer of salvation, acknowledging my sins before Him and accepting Him as my Lord and personal Savior. But my relationship to Him remained to be merely that of an acquiantance. I didn't read my Bible nor pray to Him that often. At that time also, I was in a relationship with a guy from school.

The Secret to Real Beauty

In Google search page, I typed in the word "beauty" and hit enter. Search results offered me an array of articles - how to achieve it, ways to maintain it and dreadful signs warning you that you need to double-time in your efforts in keeping it. Eat Healthy. Exercise Regularly. Use an ample amount of the right skin care products. We read it on the magazines, we watch it on the TV and we see them on the billboards. We know them by heart. But do these things really work to make and keep you beautiful?

Before I answer this question, let me share this personal story:

It was a typical afternoon in the office. The yuppies are huddled in the conference room, laptops in front of us, preparing for the upcoming trainings and projects. Four of us were there. Israeli Boy, Little Princess, NBSB Girl and I (for anonymity, I will use code names). We were hungry but everyone was too lazy preoccupied to walk over to the phone and punch those delivery numbers. In short, di bale nang pare-pareho tayong magutom 'wag lang mapagod.

Then one of my colleagues arrived. Let's call him Gentle Giant. Again, we were all too apathetic preoccupied with our work that we were not really mindful of who comes in and goes out. Little Princess, went out of the room. A few minutes later, she came back, a Cheeseburger meal from McDonald's in her hand. With a sheepish smile, she asked us, "Gusto nyo?" NBSB Girl and I exchanged meaningful glances. We already knew where the food came from. It has been an inside joke that being pretty has its own perks. One of which is getting favors from other people in the office - having someone hold out the door for you or carry your bag, open your canned tuna for lunch, pay for your jeepney fare or in Little Princess' case, drop by McDonald's before going to the office and grab a burger meal for you (go large). Right? Maybe not. Just from people who likes you. You get what I mean.

So, this conversation took place as we helped ourselves with some frenchfries:

Me: Sarap ng fries..
Little Princess: Oo nga, ang sarap. Ang sarap maging maganda. Hahaha.
Me: Oo nga.. Hahaha.
NBSB Girl: Sige na kayo na ang maganda. Ako na ang pangit.
All three: Hahaha!

NBSB Girl intended her statement as pun since she is not pangit. For me, she is one of the prettiest girls I know. But sometimes we, ladies are guilty of having this sense that we are not pretty when we don't get favors from others while another girl does.