Several years ago, during a job interview, I was asked a question that proved quite profound. The question was: if you were to describe your life in just one sentence, how will you describe it?
I never realy cared to remember the answer I gave to the interviewer. But, in the last few weeks, after going through a difficult and personal life experience, the question came back to my mind: if you are to describe your life in just one sentence, how will you describe it?
In a single sentence, I would say my life is a long stretch of road. And as I travel across this road, I get to meet people, many of whom I get to hurt; while others get to hurt me in return.
Getting to hurt people was never intentional on my part. In the same way, I know now that people who get to hurt me never do so deliberately.
Still, there was pain inflicted, and many times, this same pain can linger inside, causing haunting heartaches and even untold hatred, emotions that can lead you to feign a smile while tears flow unceasingly from the most fragile portion of your heart.
It is only in letting go of the pain and embracing forgiveness that you will find inner peace. Sadly, as I look back at the road behind me, I find that I have allowed the tears to continue swelling while seeing the road before me as only stacked with more uncertainties, and more of the same unpleasant experiences. That thought, I realized, has kept me from seeing the end of this road and I know that it will still take several more twists and turns before I see a change in the road patterns or even a crossroad.
One faint hope gives me a smile, though. The hope that at the end of this long stretch, I will find my Maker waiting for me with a smile on His divine lips, telling me I have done well, and that He is pleased to know that I am finally coming home.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Something for the Homeless People
Last night, as I was riding in a bus on my way home, I saw two homeless persons sitting on the sidewalk and staring blankly at God knows what. They look hungry and cold, as most homeless people do.
At about the same time, the bus TV (yes, it has one) was playing the video concert of British singer Phil Collins. He was performing the song 'Another Day in Paradise'.
Phil Collins composed and dedicated the song to all the homeless people all around the world.
Was it mere coincidence the song was playing when I saw those two homeless persons on the street that night?
We often think of them as unsightly, smelly, and at times dangerous people, which can be understandable. Yet, they are not really different from the rest of us. They are still breathing, living human beings, who, by some strange and perhaps wicked twist of fate, underwent one or two harrowing experience.
Who knows if what they went through and continue to go through will be the very same things that some or all of us may someday go through as well?
It's a bit far-fetched of course. But you have to admit that fate can be very cruel every now and then. With that in mind, how certain are we that we will not suffer the same fate as these homeless ones?
I'm supposed you're thinking now that I'm part of some non-government organization. No, I'm not, and just like those homeless people, I too have my own monsters that I have yet to deal with. Even if I wanted to, I could not really be of much help to them.
So what's the point of writing about them? I don't really know. Maybe it's just my own lilttle way of helping each one of us realize that homeless people do exist and they continue to grow. While life opportunities abound, very few are being presented to them, not even a small shelter to spend the night in. Maybe we can start from there as our initial assistance.
An excerpt from Phil Collin's song said it aptly: "...Sir, can you help me? It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep. Is there somewhere you can tell me?"
At about the same time, the bus TV (yes, it has one) was playing the video concert of British singer Phil Collins. He was performing the song 'Another Day in Paradise'.
Phil Collins composed and dedicated the song to all the homeless people all around the world.
Was it mere coincidence the song was playing when I saw those two homeless persons on the street that night?
We often think of them as unsightly, smelly, and at times dangerous people, which can be understandable. Yet, they are not really different from the rest of us. They are still breathing, living human beings, who, by some strange and perhaps wicked twist of fate, underwent one or two harrowing experience.
Who knows if what they went through and continue to go through will be the very same things that some or all of us may someday go through as well?
It's a bit far-fetched of course. But you have to admit that fate can be very cruel every now and then. With that in mind, how certain are we that we will not suffer the same fate as these homeless ones?
I'm supposed you're thinking now that I'm part of some non-government organization. No, I'm not, and just like those homeless people, I too have my own monsters that I have yet to deal with. Even if I wanted to, I could not really be of much help to them.
So what's the point of writing about them? I don't really know. Maybe it's just my own lilttle way of helping each one of us realize that homeless people do exist and they continue to grow. While life opportunities abound, very few are being presented to them, not even a small shelter to spend the night in. Maybe we can start from there as our initial assistance.
An excerpt from Phil Collin's song said it aptly: "...Sir, can you help me? It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep. Is there somewhere you can tell me?"
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Business Day for the Dead
Yesterday, me, my wife and two daughters, along with my mother and my younger brother, visited my late father's grave. I'm not sure if this is done worldwide, but here where I live, it's called All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day, the time of the year when the locals troop to the cemetery to pay their annual respects to their loved ones who have gone on to the next life.
About four decades ago, this special day used to be observed solemnly. Silence was supposed to be a key element, with only the utterings of short prayers slicing through the stillness of the day.
Today, however, silence has become an absurdity when the locals celebrate All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day. In practically every cemetery, whether public or private, the sounds of laughter, of lively chats, of food being eaten, even of unplanned quarrels, could be heard. And the strange thing about all of these is that they all have become part and parcel of the celebration.
In every corner, there are stalls that sell almost every kind of food that you can think of, from biscuits to hotdogs. Even popular food chains have found cemeteries profitable business places during this time of the year.
All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day has ceased to become so. These days, I refer to it as Business Day for the Dead.
About four decades ago, this special day used to be observed solemnly. Silence was supposed to be a key element, with only the utterings of short prayers slicing through the stillness of the day.
Today, however, silence has become an absurdity when the locals celebrate All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day. In practically every cemetery, whether public or private, the sounds of laughter, of lively chats, of food being eaten, even of unplanned quarrels, could be heard. And the strange thing about all of these is that they all have become part and parcel of the celebration.
In every corner, there are stalls that sell almost every kind of food that you can think of, from biscuits to hotdogs. Even popular food chains have found cemeteries profitable business places during this time of the year.
All Saints' Day/All Souls' Day has ceased to become so. These days, I refer to it as Business Day for the Dead.
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