My Graceful Exit

I'm not calling it suicide. I just know it would come.

Death is inevitable. It will surely come. But I know better than I used to. I know will not really die. I will just sleep--or so i thought.

Death is waking up from this perishable space-matter-time world. It is a transition from a wretched world to a better one-- far better one.

I know my time would come. But what can I do? I can't escape it. Maybe I just have to make the most out of it.

It's no use prolonging my stay as the world is so busy doing. A single meaningful death is better than million meaningless lives. It's better to live a short life full of love than to live a long one without it.

I'm thinking of a graceful exit... one that will bring more people to realisation of the secret things of God. Perhaps martyrdom. Perhaps a peaceful one. Whatever it will be, it's significance will be in the hands of God.

A Beggar

Many times I was approached by beggars of different ages, gender,and looks. But I don't give them anything, at least, not all the time. Many times I asked myself what to do when faced in such situations.

What would I give? How much? Should I run away? What would he do with the money I give him? Is he a part of a syndicate? Why don't he look for a job? Why should this man so dependent on people? Doesn't he have what it takes to feed himself?

Sometimes I find myself looking away, or pretending not to look at the poor person--or pretending to be one-- so I could spare the little pennies I have. Sometimes I give what I could spare just to ease up my conscience. Rarely I treat the beggar with a little food, perhaps a piece of bread and a drink--just to make sure the money would somehow go to somewhere worthwhile. And once, ONLY ONCE, I did what I thought was impossible for me to do: to share something I hold dear, the Word of God.

I wonder why there are still people like them even in the super-power countries. Good or bad government, there are still beggars. Even Jesus Himself said,"You will always have the poor among you..."

Maybe the problem is not really eradicating poverty. Only God Himself can make one man rich and another poor. Some uneducated people go rich. some college graduates end up in slums.

Maybe the problem is the absence of Christ in the hearts of men.. "...but you will not always have me." [Jn. 12:8]

I still do have compassion for my poor brethren. I know what it's like to be poor, to have nothing. I know deep in my heart that I want to help them.

What would Jesus do?

It was not written that he gave them money. Instead he gave them what they needed. He healed the sick, make a blind beggar see and many things.

Peter and John made a crippled beggar walk in using the name of Jesus.

I wish that I have that kind of faith to say “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”. I haven't done that too. I still don't have the boldness.

I have clothes, money, and most importantly, a deep and experiential knowledge of Christ, but I learned that we are no better than beggars. We have nothing. Everyday we 'beg' God for forgiveness of sins. We are very reliant on God. We cannot even work for our own righteousness. Still God graciously forgives us every time we confess our sins to Him.

I can only give what I have.

An Empty Pot

Often I find myself spinning around in an endless cycle of unsuspecting events that I thought that would change me.

I thought I way driven by my emotions all along. I thought I could get what I want all the time. I thought Francis Bacon was right when he said 'I think therefore I am'.

I was awfully wrong.

Time is fleeting. I can only be once of who I am in a moment. One moment pass and it's nothing. One 'me' pass and there's another 'me' coming.

I can only be young once, child once, alive once, do this thing and that once. And when eveything is over, nothing ever remains.

This then is the truth that was so elusive to me: That someone, a Master of the Universe, one not bound in time and decay, is holding me together. I can only see what I can, feel what I can, and perceive what I can. Someone out there sees everything, knows everything and feels everything.

I realised what I have been doing was moving in ways that I want like a stubborn piece of clay. The hands of God were guiding to a shape He desires, but I kept on moving. He never gave up though I bacame as hard as rock. He broke me, melted me in fire and molded me again.

He wanted to shape me into the image of His Son. Now I'm an empty piece of pot; an artwork only He knows what; a tool ready to be used in His own time and purpose.

How To Love

Not by a quick 'yes' nor an immediate 'no'
Nor by having less or by having so and so
But by being patient for God to let you know
And by being kind for you shall reap what you sow

Look at what others have and you will be bitter
If you are proud you'll somehow think that you're better
But love does not envy for God is your Father
Nor boast for we are no better than each other

Answer rudely and you'll add fuel to the flame
Stop self-seeking for all the glamor and the fame
But answer gently to wash away all his pain
And put others first so you will not live in vain

When your brother heaps burning coals over your head,
Or stains your white robe with his blood so crimson red
If he throws you a stone, better throw him some bread
And don't make a list of the wrongs he's done and said

If you find yourself drowning in the sea of lies,
So are your brothers dating with evil and vice,
Rejoice in truth and shut your ears from evil cries
And protect your brothers before their spirit dries

One day you'll find the one you love cheating on you
All hope is gone and you don't even have a clue
But love always trusts, must be pure and always true
Always hopes for day to come in a night so blue

Most trials and persecutions may weigh you down
And many failures can crease your forehead and frown
True love always perseveres and can never drown
Though with many failures it runs towards the crown

But there's a love that is so hard to comprehend
That He went down to earth with many hearts to mend
The Righteous One gave His life for a sinful friend
So great was His love for He loved them 'til the end

God Through the Years

In place where Satan has his throne were captives.
Light shown upon those who sought the Lord in darkness.
For they knew the Lord will reward him who believes,
So they stood their ground amidst the rage and madness.

Waters splashed. Seas churned. Rivers dried as blue turned to red.
They did not love their lives much as to shrink from death.
Rushing wind blew by and gave life to all the dead.
They stood up at the sound of the Almighty's breath.

Then the Lord brought back the captives to Mount Zion.
He made us taste the first-fruits which we ourselves are.
On the holy mountain stands the Lord's foundation:
Israel of God, the Lord's beloved nation.

The Lord redeemed us while we were in deep slumber.
Now we are those who dreamed, believed on things unseen.
Our hearts are filled with laughter as we remember
The great deeds of our Lord. So many have they been!

We got into the boat and caught nothing all night.
Day came and the Lord God threw our nets to the right.
Then the Bride will say in her heart 'Who bore me these?'
'Come all of you who weep! Come to my wedding feast'

And the nations look upon then who sow in tears.
And they see the image of the One they have pierced.
Gone are the sadness, worries and the needless fears.
They shall say 'The Lord has been with them through the years'

Now open the gates for the captives are coming.
Let all the watchmen shout to them who were lost:
'The Lord is merciful from the beginning'
'Give praise to Him--to the Lamb who conquered the cross'

Never Again

Never again will I close my eyes,
Or pretend to be blind, to sleep and die.
Never again will I find one reason
For me not to give myself hope.
Even though a thousand may rise against me
I will not fret, I will not bow down.
For they can never harm someone like I;
Who is already a wind passing by.
Look at me and see, take away your envy.
What am I compared to you?
What am I to those around the corner?
Empty are these words
To those who themselves are empty.
While the world goes forth,
I find myself going against its flow.
There's no meaning nor rhyme
In this world where all things may die.
Spend money there and spend time.
But everything will cease.
Until the last empty space is revealed.
And the last of it will be filled.
And the strong will stand up and die.
In the end, never again...
Never again will I hear good bye.

I Came For the Trash

I have had a fair share of parables in my life—most of them were from my Teacher. One day, I never thought I would be a part of a great one.

One day, my mother told me that someone has called my father to deliver hardware goods to some faraway place I knew nothing about. Unfortunately, my father was in USP Mabini gathering unused cartons for extra cash. Because I don't have anything to contact him, I was sent there with sore knees, still wearing my pajamas, riding a small bicycle under the heat of the sun.

When I arrived at the school, I told my father about the new delivery so I went home with him riding his multi-cab. Just after we arrived home, he sent me out again to USP to continue what he had started. That meant I had to bike my way up again.

Then I arrived in the school still wearing my pajamas. I saw the students in uniform staring at me as if I'm a trash collector. Others didn't notice me at all. Then I thought to myself, they didn't know I was valedictorian in elementary, rank thirteen in the graduate class of the most prestigious high school in Cebu and a civil engineering student in USC.

That time, it was different. I didn't go there to study. I went there to continue what my father had started. I went there as a trash collector. I came not for the students but for the trash.

I remembered my Teacher that time. He had also been a trash collector as I was. Maybe when He came down, He may have somewhat similar thoughts as I had when I arrived in the school. He was and is the Prince of Heaven after all.

After I finished doing my task, I remembered His very words: For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.