Nothing stays the same…
“Life will never be the same again life is changing”… what a fantastic saying and an awesome song by Haddaway… You’d think after my years of living that I would get used to the changes. I’m not! Some times they still hit home to me.
Christmas & Memories
At Christmas there is much intermingled – children – innocence, expectancy; love ones – homecoming, happiness and mellow moods; for many people it would mean loneliness – serious concerns; of course there are ‘SOME’ generosity in some areas, it makes me wonder though why we couldn‘t do it everyday. This is the time when we find some emerging of our ‘Better Selves’ – and so much else besides – all intermixed with a measure of ‘Forgiving’ and ‘Forgetting’ – and with memories from all past years that merge and mixed with the present moment.
Aliah’s Desire… “Revival and Unity”
We are living in days of great opportunity. Many of us have prayed and prayed that God would break out with a move of His Holy Spirit that would not only revolutionise the church but would be a catalyst for a spiritual awakening in our city at large.
Karen’s Secret
The story is told about a young lion that asked his mother: “Where is happiness?” The mother lion responded: “On your tail.” Upon hearing this, the young lion started chasing his tail, and spent the whole day doing so. Seeing the young lion tired and exhausted, the mother lion said: “Son, you don’t chase happiness. Just keep moving forward, and your happiness will follow.”
No One Loves the Truth… it’s ME
“You must shatter the vase to spread its perfume, and smite the rock to get the spark!” (El Filibusterismo) Dr. Jose P. Rizal “Better to hurt me with the truth rather than comfort me with your lies.” Truth can hit us hard. The truth hurts, but it is better to experience closure with pain rather than a never-ending agony, or a guessing game.
Pain has never been embraced nor welcomed in life…
We all know that pain has never been embraced or welcomed in life, yet it is the very thing that will quicken us. What hinders you today will be your strength tomorrow for what is light without dark? Good without evil? If either did not exist, would we learn?
You are the Window…
There is a remarkable sentence from George Bernard Shaw: “Better keep yourself clean and bright, he said… “You are the window through which you must see the world.”
Snares and Traps
“I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:22). A friend of mine was telling me once about this interesting system they use to do for capturing monkeys in their province of Leyte, Philippines. Because they don’t want to kill them as they feel that it is cruel, their goal was to take the monkeys alive so they can also sell it as a pet or release it back into the jungle. In an extremely humane way, they use large coconut, with a small hole, into which they deposit a handful of food, which the monkeys like.
The Man In The Mirror
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,…” (Proverbs 21:2). We are often very quick to judge other people on what they do or by how they act or lived. But perhaps we should also do our own examination of ourselves.
What Matters Most
While I was studying in high school I use to watch this old man in the City for many months, with dirty turned out clothes he mostly wear. I use to pay a lot of attention on people’s faces as each one of them looked at him with scorn. He did not hold a sign up, on the corner where he stood begging for food or money, like others like him would. He is also an alcoholic and I found out later that people use to call him ‘POWER’ as his nickname.
I Dreamed a Dream…
When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds. Your mind transcends Iimitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.
Hang in there…
It is not enough to just exist. We must GROW, and PERSIST. Yes, we must remain in God and bear fruit. We must not just be “living branches.” We must be fruit-bearing branches. For those who are still alive, and who perhaps are living abundant lives, the question remains: Am I living a fruitful life? Have others benefited from my life?
OMG, It’s My Birthday!
“The most extensive knowledge does not necessarily know it; reasoning will not make men wise in it. The sages have decided against both these methods … By non-action everything can be done.” (Tzu, 1968). I don’t know about you, but I’m getting sick of pretending to be excited every time it’s somebody’s birthday, you know what I mean? What is the big deal? How many times do we have to celebrate that someone was born?
The Insatiable Demand For MORE…
There is a phase that suggests a subject: “The insatiable demand for more.” Who ever heard of anyone who was happy, who wouldn’t be satisfied? – who always had to have more and ever more – more thrills, more indulgence, more power, more possessions. Some over-indulge by trying to satisfy appetites that remain unsatisfied. Some make demands, and when their demands are met, make more demands.
Winners & Losers…
“Help me to seek not so much to be understood but to understand, to be loved but to love with all my soul.” (St. Francis of Assisi). How many people have lost their health, reputation, family, friends, values, and even their very souls for the sake of money? Is it worth it all?