Last night, I got a text from Hg, and I couldn't help but read the message with a look of disbelief. Do these things actually happen to people?
Well, it happened to Hg, and this is his story:
"I decided to forego taking a cab and took an FX out of Manila; the lousy driver sideswipes a mountain biker along Espana, near Recto. As the FX driver and biker fought it out, I got out and boarded another FX which promptly overheats in front of Delta-Quezon Ave. I finally decided, 'screw it I'm taking a cab,' and ride the very same cab I passed up along Taft. Today is not my day. =("
But, wait, as our friend D would say, there's more...
"What fun. Just when I readied my bath, a friend of mine calls and invites me to Ortigas for a FREE all-women, swimsuit fashion show at 7 pm. I really suck. =(" (I got this text at 6:56 pm, which would've given Hg about 4 minutes to get from Quezon City to Ortigas. During rush hour.)
Truly, as Hg said in one of his final texts last night, a "Mr. Bean moment."
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Reconnecting
Had lunch and coffee today with L, an old friend from the high school.
L taught for a year in the high school, back in the late 90s (my gosh, has it been that long?). In the course of that year, she and I became good friends. Over the years, we would get together and catch up.
We met up at the Book Sale in Greenhills (one of our common loves), and started going through various cook books (note to self: must go through cook book library and actually cook something from it). After some discussion, we decided to go to Lolo Mao's for lunch, and Gloria Jean's for dessert and coffee.
Over lunch and coffee, we caught up on each other's comings and goings; I was still teaching, and she was currently writing for Food magazine. Each of us has a daughter about the same age; G is just a few months older than her B, and both will be starting preschool this June. How she is; how I was, that sort of thing.
What I liked was being able to reconnect with an old friend, and what was nice was that, despite the long hiatus from each other, it was easy getting back into conversation, as if the year that had passed with little communication had never been. I guess it's like that with good friends; distance is never an issue.
L taught for a year in the high school, back in the late 90s (my gosh, has it been that long?). In the course of that year, she and I became good friends. Over the years, we would get together and catch up.
We met up at the Book Sale in Greenhills (one of our common loves), and started going through various cook books (note to self: must go through cook book library and actually cook something from it). After some discussion, we decided to go to Lolo Mao's for lunch, and Gloria Jean's for dessert and coffee.
Over lunch and coffee, we caught up on each other's comings and goings; I was still teaching, and she was currently writing for Food magazine. Each of us has a daughter about the same age; G is just a few months older than her B, and both will be starting preschool this June. How she is; how I was, that sort of thing.
What I liked was being able to reconnect with an old friend, and what was nice was that, despite the long hiatus from each other, it was easy getting back into conversation, as if the year that had passed with little communication had never been. I guess it's like that with good friends; distance is never an issue.
Last Week of Vacation
Man, where has the time gone? One moment it's the end of the school year, and, a week from now, I'll be reporting back to work for in-service training.
It's been a busy few days, preparing for G's birthday party last Saturday. Almost everyday before the party, H and I were going out to the supermarket for groceries and to various stops for flowers and party gimmicks. I can see why some families opt to go for birthday packages at McDo or other fastfood outlets; up to the last minute before the party, we were fixing stuff, decorating the house, cooking food, etc. Manoman, that was tiring.
The next day, we attended the baptism of T's son, which was held at Malate. We arrived just in time, and then the reception was held Max's in Robinson's Place.
Yesterday was G's actual birthday; she turned 3. Nothing much except for a cake and candles for dinner. I think I spent most of the afternoon asleep.
Tomorrow, H's parents, sister and lola will be planing in from Iloilo to watch her take her oath as a lawyer, having passed last year's Bar. She'll be taking her oath on Friday, so it's going to be a busy week this week.
Next week I go back to work, which might seem a refreshing change from hanging out at my parents' house most of April.
I'll have to find time to catch up on my sleep, though.
It's been a busy few days, preparing for G's birthday party last Saturday. Almost everyday before the party, H and I were going out to the supermarket for groceries and to various stops for flowers and party gimmicks. I can see why some families opt to go for birthday packages at McDo or other fastfood outlets; up to the last minute before the party, we were fixing stuff, decorating the house, cooking food, etc. Manoman, that was tiring.
The next day, we attended the baptism of T's son, which was held at Malate. We arrived just in time, and then the reception was held Max's in Robinson's Place.
Yesterday was G's actual birthday; she turned 3. Nothing much except for a cake and candles for dinner. I think I spent most of the afternoon asleep.
Tomorrow, H's parents, sister and lola will be planing in from Iloilo to watch her take her oath as a lawyer, having passed last year's Bar. She'll be taking her oath on Friday, so it's going to be a busy week this week.
Next week I go back to work, which might seem a refreshing change from hanging out at my parents' house most of April.
I'll have to find time to catch up on my sleep, though.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Thoughts on the New Pope
I was reading CNN.com this morning, and came across a link that led me to emails of people putting in their two cents about Pope Benedict XVI. Of course, there were the exclamations of joy at his election, and the expressions of fear about Benedict XVI's conservatism. But I liked one particular email because of the writer's insight into the Catholic Church's stand. Here it is:
I think the thing mainstream America doesn't understand about the supreme office of the Roman Catholic Church is that its true leaders in the Vatican don't concern themselves with the "right now." They are most concerned with upholding the teachings and traditions of the Church. John Paul II's mission will be continued with Benedict XVI throughout the world. He stands for tradition, he always has. As for the American Catholic, this may seem to be a bit of a let down as many of them were hoping for someone even more worldly and progressive. I'm quite pleased with our cardinals' decision.
J; San Clemente, California
I quite agree with his opinion.
Another has a valuable insight into the way we should look at Benedict XVI:
I am a Sri Lankan International Student in Australia. It is with joy that I congratulate His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on his assuming the throne of St. Peter. It is sad that there is so much "mixed" negative feeling about him only hours after he has been elected, I myself would have liked many other cardinals, but as I saw that kindhearted smile from the holy man stepping out on the balcony, I was filled with Joy. It is not right to judge a man whom as a Catholic I believe God has chosen in such a short time. There is a misconception that he is a tyrannical conservative, and hard man. It should be known that he was an "Enforcer" since that is what his responsibility was the past two decades, but now he is a pastor and a "Papa" to a billion of the world and his humble gesture and beautiful words shows who he truly is! And with confidence in God! I join the millions of the Church praying for him! Viva Papa!
S; Melbourne, Australia
Well, we're all in a wait and see attitude. Myself, I want to give him that chance.
One catch phrase that I hear in a number of retreats I've been to is "There are no accidents in God's plan." No accidents, so one simply has to believe that there is a reason for his election as Pope.
I guess the problem is information overload. Our media is so intrusive now, that it seems like they're going into every nook and cranny, searching for something on the new Pope, some "edge" that will put them ahead of our rivals. Too much information can be daunting. We probably now know more about Pope Benedict XVI than any other Pope in so short a time. There is not enough time to digest all of it. The wisest course is to reserve judgement, and wait and see what Pope Benedict XVI will do for the Catholic Church.
I think the thing mainstream America doesn't understand about the supreme office of the Roman Catholic Church is that its true leaders in the Vatican don't concern themselves with the "right now." They are most concerned with upholding the teachings and traditions of the Church. John Paul II's mission will be continued with Benedict XVI throughout the world. He stands for tradition, he always has. As for the American Catholic, this may seem to be a bit of a let down as many of them were hoping for someone even more worldly and progressive. I'm quite pleased with our cardinals' decision.
J; San Clemente, California
I quite agree with his opinion.
Another has a valuable insight into the way we should look at Benedict XVI:
I am a Sri Lankan International Student in Australia. It is with joy that I congratulate His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on his assuming the throne of St. Peter. It is sad that there is so much "mixed" negative feeling about him only hours after he has been elected, I myself would have liked many other cardinals, but as I saw that kindhearted smile from the holy man stepping out on the balcony, I was filled with Joy. It is not right to judge a man whom as a Catholic I believe God has chosen in such a short time. There is a misconception that he is a tyrannical conservative, and hard man. It should be known that he was an "Enforcer" since that is what his responsibility was the past two decades, but now he is a pastor and a "Papa" to a billion of the world and his humble gesture and beautiful words shows who he truly is! And with confidence in God! I join the millions of the Church praying for him! Viva Papa!
S; Melbourne, Australia
Well, we're all in a wait and see attitude. Myself, I want to give him that chance.
One catch phrase that I hear in a number of retreats I've been to is "There are no accidents in God's plan." No accidents, so one simply has to believe that there is a reason for his election as Pope.
I guess the problem is information overload. Our media is so intrusive now, that it seems like they're going into every nook and cranny, searching for something on the new Pope, some "edge" that will put them ahead of our rivals. Too much information can be daunting. We probably now know more about Pope Benedict XVI than any other Pope in so short a time. There is not enough time to digest all of it. The wisest course is to reserve judgement, and wait and see what Pope Benedict XVI will do for the Catholic Church.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
HABEMUS PAPAM!
Cardinal Ratzinger becomes Pope Benedict XVI.
Information about Pope Benedict XVI
I'm not yet sure how to feel about the new Pope. As I was telling my friend A, it's a little difficult to put my thoughts and feelings into words.
I guess it's because I haven't really gotten into the realization that Pope Benedict XVI is the Pope; John Paul II was such an integral part of Catholic life for a quarter of a century, it hasn't sunk in that he has passed on and the Catholic Church has a new shepherd of the flock.
The other reservation I have is about the new Pope's supposed "ultra-conservative" views, mainly because I'm not sure about how "conservative" they really are. Perhaps he is simply upholding Catholic doctrine as he interprets it.
I, for one, agree in principle with his sermon before the conclave gathered, particularly the point on relativism.
"We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism, which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires."
How true. Why is it that people nowadays feel that everything is negotiable? I think there should be some absolutes in life, values that we need to hold on to as our spiritual anchor in life. And if we believe that the values are only applicable when we feel like it, therein lies the danger.
Fr. Mon, in my retreat last weekend, posited that the problem facing the country was not primarily financial, but moral. I agree. We have become so corrupt and value-less as a nation, that wrongdoings by people in authority are seen more with envy rather than with condemnation.
Ironically, we are the third largest Catholic country in the world, after Brazil and Mexico, and we don't practice our faith as it should be practiced: not only by going to Mass and praying, but by doing, by acting.
Whew. Rambled on there. Anyway, I'm hoping that the new Pope will steer the Church in the right direction. I'm praying that he will be guided by the Holy Spirit as he acts as the leader of the Church.
I guess I will, as many of us as well, wait and see what Pope Benedict XVI will be doing in the coming months. His actions and decisions will have a great impact on the direction of the Catholic Church.
Information about Pope Benedict XVI
I'm not yet sure how to feel about the new Pope. As I was telling my friend A, it's a little difficult to put my thoughts and feelings into words.
I guess it's because I haven't really gotten into the realization that Pope Benedict XVI is the Pope; John Paul II was such an integral part of Catholic life for a quarter of a century, it hasn't sunk in that he has passed on and the Catholic Church has a new shepherd of the flock.
The other reservation I have is about the new Pope's supposed "ultra-conservative" views, mainly because I'm not sure about how "conservative" they really are. Perhaps he is simply upholding Catholic doctrine as he interprets it.
I, for one, agree in principle with his sermon before the conclave gathered, particularly the point on relativism.
"We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism, which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires."
How true. Why is it that people nowadays feel that everything is negotiable? I think there should be some absolutes in life, values that we need to hold on to as our spiritual anchor in life. And if we believe that the values are only applicable when we feel like it, therein lies the danger.
Fr. Mon, in my retreat last weekend, posited that the problem facing the country was not primarily financial, but moral. I agree. We have become so corrupt and value-less as a nation, that wrongdoings by people in authority are seen more with envy rather than with condemnation.
Ironically, we are the third largest Catholic country in the world, after Brazil and Mexico, and we don't practice our faith as it should be practiced: not only by going to Mass and praying, but by doing, by acting.
Whew. Rambled on there. Anyway, I'm hoping that the new Pope will steer the Church in the right direction. I'm praying that he will be guided by the Holy Spirit as he acts as the leader of the Church.
I guess I will, as many of us as well, wait and see what Pope Benedict XVI will be doing in the coming months. His actions and decisions will have a great impact on the direction of the Catholic Church.
Catfight!
I've dealt with unruly parents in my time, but nothing beats what happened last Monday. I only heard about it when my friend, K, came into the workroom after the incident.
Apparently one mother came into the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) office, to enroll her son, and, since she was missing her son's ID picture, sent her son out to get his photo taken. In the meantime, the student processing the enrollment forms put her form aside.
When she came back with the photo, she was furious when her son's form turned out to be missing. She berated the student and then headed to the cashier. When she got to the cashier, she pushed aside a kid, whose mother started jawing with the push-er. The second mother broke off the confrontation, only to be chased by the first mother and they started fighting in the driveway.
Aside from the fact that two grown-ups who should know better were duking it out in the high school driveway, what was even more embarassing was that the mother who started the altercation had a son studying at the High School, and the other didn't. I'm wondering what the non-High School mother must be thinking about the school.
Maybe the woman who started it was having a really bad day. But it doesn't excuse her behavior.
Apparently one mother came into the Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) office, to enroll her son, and, since she was missing her son's ID picture, sent her son out to get his photo taken. In the meantime, the student processing the enrollment forms put her form aside.
When she came back with the photo, she was furious when her son's form turned out to be missing. She berated the student and then headed to the cashier. When she got to the cashier, she pushed aside a kid, whose mother started jawing with the push-er. The second mother broke off the confrontation, only to be chased by the first mother and they started fighting in the driveway.
Aside from the fact that two grown-ups who should know better were duking it out in the high school driveway, what was even more embarassing was that the mother who started the altercation had a son studying at the High School, and the other didn't. I'm wondering what the non-High School mother must be thinking about the school.
Maybe the woman who started it was having a really bad day. But it doesn't excuse her behavior.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Retreat
Just finished a weekend retreat at Sacred Heart Novitiate. It's been a while, so this particular one was refreshing, in the sense that I was able to take time off from stuff and just be able to pray and meditate.
Our retreat master was Fr. Mon Bautista, SJ, who is the brother of our associate principal for formation, Fr. Kit Bautista, SJ. Fr. Mon was really good in organizing the reflection points: about how to pray, and the three parts of the Catholic faith (creed, cult, code).
Last Saturday, I visited the Jesuit cemetery, and said a quiet "hello" to the Jesuits I knew there: Bro. Dunne, Fr. OB, and Fr. Joe Cruz, and Fr. Koller among others. Later in the day, we the retreatants attended the internment of Fr. Benny Mayo, Sj, the former Jesuit provincial, who had passed away earlier in the week.What struck me was the simplicity of the ceremony, and the number of people who had come to pay their last respects.
What strikes me about the cemetery is the history lying there. Names that are part and parcel of the Ateneo: Delaney, Duffy, Eliazo, Cervini, de la Costa, among others, were there in the cemetery. Atenean giants.
It was really, really quiet in Sacred Heart, making it conducive to prayer and meditation.
I took copious notes during the entire retreat, as I always have during past retreats. Looking over them, I think I'll take them, as well as past notes, and try to organize them into something I can read from time to time.
Our retreat master was Fr. Mon Bautista, SJ, who is the brother of our associate principal for formation, Fr. Kit Bautista, SJ. Fr. Mon was really good in organizing the reflection points: about how to pray, and the three parts of the Catholic faith (creed, cult, code).
Last Saturday, I visited the Jesuit cemetery, and said a quiet "hello" to the Jesuits I knew there: Bro. Dunne, Fr. OB, and Fr. Joe Cruz, and Fr. Koller among others. Later in the day, we the retreatants attended the internment of Fr. Benny Mayo, Sj, the former Jesuit provincial, who had passed away earlier in the week.What struck me was the simplicity of the ceremony, and the number of people who had come to pay their last respects.
What strikes me about the cemetery is the history lying there. Names that are part and parcel of the Ateneo: Delaney, Duffy, Eliazo, Cervini, de la Costa, among others, were there in the cemetery. Atenean giants.
It was really, really quiet in Sacred Heart, making it conducive to prayer and meditation.
I took copious notes during the entire retreat, as I always have during past retreats. Looking over them, I think I'll take them, as well as past notes, and try to organize them into something I can read from time to time.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Media Spin
It was with a bit of shock that I got a text from my class president that the father of one of my students had died. It was with greater shock that I read about his death in the newspapers today; he apparently had committed suicide.
He was the president of a bank that had closed, and, since its closure, he had been fighting in the courts to clear his name. Apparently, he was really disturbed by what had happened to him. I can only hope that now, he's at peace.
What bothers me is the way one newspaper spun its story. The Philippine Star implied that it was the wife who aggravated the situation, driving the man to suicide. And, of course, the paper protected itself by simply saying that their source was "close to the family." Somehow, I find it hard to believe that someone who's actually close to the family would share such a thing.
Here's the selected text from the paper (however, I've removed any references for personal reasons):
"However, a source close to the family claimed B- was in dire financial straits. His family’s residence at G- is under forfeiture proceedings by a bank and he failed to pay the tuition of his children who are studying at -, according to a close family friend.
The source added what made things worse was that his wife kept on badgering him about the problems their family was going through. "
Note also, that the Star is the only paper I've read today that carries that implication.Maybe it's even proud that it has more details than other papers.
At the same time, by making its story more "interesting," to push its sales, the Star has besmeared the name of a person. What end will that accomplish? It's unfair to the wife, because she will now have to deal with all the crap her husband left. She doesn't need any additional burden; it's not like her husband will be around to refute such accusations.
Of course, the Star will probably claim that "the public has a need to know." Do we? Then, why not publish the name of the source, as well?
Sometimes, there is a liability in having a "free press."
He was the president of a bank that had closed, and, since its closure, he had been fighting in the courts to clear his name. Apparently, he was really disturbed by what had happened to him. I can only hope that now, he's at peace.
What bothers me is the way one newspaper spun its story. The Philippine Star implied that it was the wife who aggravated the situation, driving the man to suicide. And, of course, the paper protected itself by simply saying that their source was "close to the family." Somehow, I find it hard to believe that someone who's actually close to the family would share such a thing.
Here's the selected text from the paper (however, I've removed any references for personal reasons):
"However, a source close to the family claimed B- was in dire financial straits. His family’s residence at G- is under forfeiture proceedings by a bank and he failed to pay the tuition of his children who are studying at -, according to a close family friend.
The source added what made things worse was that his wife kept on badgering him about the problems their family was going through. "
Note also, that the Star is the only paper I've read today that carries that implication.Maybe it's even proud that it has more details than other papers.
At the same time, by making its story more "interesting," to push its sales, the Star has besmeared the name of a person. What end will that accomplish? It's unfair to the wife, because she will now have to deal with all the crap her husband left. She doesn't need any additional burden; it's not like her husband will be around to refute such accusations.
Of course, the Star will probably claim that "the public has a need to know." Do we? Then, why not publish the name of the source, as well?
Sometimes, there is a liability in having a "free press."
Friday, April 08, 2005
Summer Blues
(Gah! Blogger sent me to a 'cannot find server' page and blew what I wrote right out of the water! Grrr...)
H and I went searching for a washing machine in SM's appliance center in Megamall. And we were appalled at the clerks' inability to extol the wonders of the units they were selling.
One lady claimed that a particular unit was easy to work, "because it had a manual." Sheesh. It wasn't the first time we encountered this person. The last time we were at the appliance center, she claimed a particular machine was German-made, only to glance down at the model and see the Chinese characters proudly proclaiming its origin.
Another guy told us that he wasn't in charge of the brand we were looking at, and told us to choose the brand that he handled, simply because he was handling the brand. (Don't they have any training for these people?)
We'll be checking out Western in Ever Commonwealth later in the day, and hopefully, the store clerks will be more knowledgeable about the products they sell.
H and I went searching for a washing machine in SM's appliance center in Megamall. And we were appalled at the clerks' inability to extol the wonders of the units they were selling.
One lady claimed that a particular unit was easy to work, "because it had a manual." Sheesh. It wasn't the first time we encountered this person. The last time we were at the appliance center, she claimed a particular machine was German-made, only to glance down at the model and see the Chinese characters proudly proclaiming its origin.
Another guy told us that he wasn't in charge of the brand we were looking at, and told us to choose the brand that he handled, simply because he was handling the brand. (Don't they have any training for these people?)
We'll be checking out Western in Ever Commonwealth later in the day, and hopefully, the store clerks will be more knowledgeable about the products they sell.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
This is Strange...
I am taking way too many tests...
Galadriel
Possessing a rare combination of wisdom and humility, while serenely dominating your environment you selflessly use your powers to care for others.
Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
Galadriel is a character in the Middle-Earth universe.
Galadriel
Possessing a rare combination of wisdom and humility, while serenely dominating your environment you selflessly use your powers to care for others.
Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
Galadriel is a character in the Middle-Earth universe.
Plagiarists, beware!
I first read about this on C's blog, and decided to follow it to the very end.
Here are the links:
First Part
Second Part
Third Part
Fourth Part
The reason why the saga resonates with me is that this year alone, I caught more people plagiarizing than all of my years as a teacher. What were they copying? Essay answers given as homework.
Now I know that a lot of students copy homework, but at the very least, people, please understand what it is you're copying. The reason why I got lucky was that with essay questions, I should expect relatively original answers. But when two or more papers have the same answers verbatim (word for word), then I have every reason to be suspicious.
It's a little easier copying math homework; more or less the solutions can be similar or the same. But, in English, it's a tad bit harder to fake it.
Needless to say, the students who were found to be copying another's work were suspended for academic dishonesty.
As an epilogue, I caught one of the plagiarists, who was actually caught twice in my class, copying his classmate's science homework in my class! What an idiot. However, after bawling him out, I decided to give him another chance. I hope he takes it seriously, because I'll be warning his teachers next year.
Here are the links:
First Part
Second Part
Third Part
Fourth Part
The reason why the saga resonates with me is that this year alone, I caught more people plagiarizing than all of my years as a teacher. What were they copying? Essay answers given as homework.
Now I know that a lot of students copy homework, but at the very least, people, please understand what it is you're copying. The reason why I got lucky was that with essay questions, I should expect relatively original answers. But when two or more papers have the same answers verbatim (word for word), then I have every reason to be suspicious.
It's a little easier copying math homework; more or less the solutions can be similar or the same. But, in English, it's a tad bit harder to fake it.
Needless to say, the students who were found to be copying another's work were suspended for academic dishonesty.
As an epilogue, I caught one of the plagiarists, who was actually caught twice in my class, copying his classmate's science homework in my class! What an idiot. However, after bawling him out, I decided to give him another chance. I hope he takes it seriously, because I'll be warning his teachers next year.
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Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Requiem, John Paul II
I heard the news during last Sunday's Mass, and singing some of the songs, especially "Anima Christi," brought tears to my eyes. Like many around the world, I am both happy and sad about Pope John Paul II's death: happy because he is finally able to rest and be with the God whom he loves, and sad because the world has lost a truly great man.
One of my friends, V, wrote a really good reflection in our YahooGroups, and I'd like to post it here:
It's is easy from time to time, to feel hopeless, lost, and insignificant in a world where there are billions of other people who share the same planet as you, who as better, smarter, richer, more powerful, and stronger than you will ever be. Especially if you're jobless, and you desperately want to find a job so you send out 50 resumes, but no one bites. Not so much as a rejection letter. At the moment, you feel the bone-crushing sensation of being nothing, a nobody the world will never hear about, or even care about.. And its easy to stay that way. It is really just that much easier to give up the fight, to never even try anymore. Then there's the poverty, the corruption, and all the reasons why you should never even attempt to fulfill your dreams, your hopes, your joys, and ultimately, even your destiny - even though you know you should.. even though this voice inside of you tells you to be the person you were born to be.. It's too hard, I can't do it, it's too big a task, I'll never succeed, it's a lost cause, it will never work, people will think its a stupid idea and say I'm crazy.. Sometimes the world discourages you not to even bother. Why risk going for broke, when you can settle for a lesser, safer, mediocre existence.
Dreams are for dreamers, all the losers of the world seem to say to themselves, enjoining more people to add to their negativity, for misery loves company. Dreams don't exist. You're nothing more than a cosmic joke, a speck of dust in the infinite universe. You serve no purpose, and even if you could serve a purpose, what the universe asks of you, you are too small to achieve. Worst of all, what the losers of the world want you to believe is this: that there is no GOD, and that any talk of one existing, is a mere grasping at straws.. a final, weak, pitiful attempt to add meaning to an otherwise, pitiful and meaningless life. A "God of the Gaps", a catch-22, an end-all and be-all for all that can't be explained in this world.
You are all alone in this universe, they seem to say. And concern for your fellow man? That's bullshit, or so they say. You can rob, steal, rape, pillage your neighbor's anything, and you will never have to attone for your "sins" - because, again, as they so believe - there is no God to speak of who will make the final judgment.
During the bad times, you can feel like you've lost some faith, and that it becomes easier to pretend that God doesn't exist. That way, you can have the best of both worlds. You are only be obligated to feel for your fellow man, when you want to -- and for the times you feel like being a selfish prick, you can be just that - because no one is really keeping score anyway. My own personal attendance in church has been spotty lately, due to many so called "excuses" but sometimes, you're just lazy to go. You don't see the point in going. You can't find the time. You become apathetic. Some say that is the real hell. Not so much that you "burn" in hell, but that you are in a time and space where no one will ever care about you, and as a result, you will never care about anything else, either.
Other times, you just don't feel the need to go to Church, as if you could go on living the rest of your life without God. There are also happy times, joyful times, even plentiful and bountiful times when things seem to be going your way, and you are quick to attribute your success all to your own efforts. I've gotten this far without God, so why should I start now?
And then you hear of people like Karol Wojtyla, or Pope John Paul II.
The critic, cynic, and skeptic in you say, "Well he was ordained by God.. He had the right connections, he was born smarter, richer..." and think up of all the excuses why your life right now, will never come to amounting to anything that great -- so a part of you will never even try.
But the fact is that the Pope was probably just like any other man, with his own doubts and fears. He probably faced many hardships and difficulties in going about his work, and in being able to accomplish all the things he has accomplished. No doubt he had enemies and detractors, naysayers who must have said that what he wanted to do was a fool's errand, and would never amount to anything. There were those who probably would have even wanted him to fail, but despite all of this, he persisted. Most importantly, he had the choice, as does everyone who is still alive today, of going out and making something worthwhile out of his life, or not. He chose to be a hero, a leader, a diplomat, a peace-keeper, and a saint, rather than to let history just pass him by. And for that, I respect the man, and mourn his passing, a true loss to the world.
The Pope, more than anyone else here on Earth, knew that God had a mission for him, and was watching over him, all the days of his life. John Paul II was sent down a certain path in his life, was made to undergo certain experiences, hardships, failures, and even a assassination attempt on his life. But rather than give up like any lesser man would have done, he appeared more determined than ever before, to spread the good news, to light beacons of hope in the darkest regions of the world, to stand up for the oppressed, to condemn the unjust, and to provide moral and spiritual guidance to an entire world that desperately needs to believe that their lives have meaning, that each and everyone is born with a purpose and a destiny to fulfill.
Most of all, it was God's mission for Karol Wojtyla to make people believe again, that a God truly does exist...
and that He works his ways here through the only vessels who can carry out HIS mission here on Earth - every single one of us.
In our own little ways, we have to continue the work that is every Catholic's duty today - to carry out those beacons of light and hope, and to shine them in the darkest areas of our world.
-----
Thank you, Lord, for giving us Karol Wojtyla, also known as John Paul II. Thank you for sharing him with us, for passing on Your wisdom through him. And now, we return this holy man to You, confident and reassured that You will take him back with open and loving arms.
Requiem in pace, Karol.
One of my friends, V, wrote a really good reflection in our YahooGroups, and I'd like to post it here:
It's is easy from time to time, to feel hopeless, lost, and insignificant in a world where there are billions of other people who share the same planet as you, who as better, smarter, richer, more powerful, and stronger than you will ever be. Especially if you're jobless, and you desperately want to find a job so you send out 50 resumes, but no one bites. Not so much as a rejection letter. At the moment, you feel the bone-crushing sensation of being nothing, a nobody the world will never hear about, or even care about.. And its easy to stay that way. It is really just that much easier to give up the fight, to never even try anymore. Then there's the poverty, the corruption, and all the reasons why you should never even attempt to fulfill your dreams, your hopes, your joys, and ultimately, even your destiny - even though you know you should.. even though this voice inside of you tells you to be the person you were born to be.. It's too hard, I can't do it, it's too big a task, I'll never succeed, it's a lost cause, it will never work, people will think its a stupid idea and say I'm crazy.. Sometimes the world discourages you not to even bother. Why risk going for broke, when you can settle for a lesser, safer, mediocre existence.
Dreams are for dreamers, all the losers of the world seem to say to themselves, enjoining more people to add to their negativity, for misery loves company. Dreams don't exist. You're nothing more than a cosmic joke, a speck of dust in the infinite universe. You serve no purpose, and even if you could serve a purpose, what the universe asks of you, you are too small to achieve. Worst of all, what the losers of the world want you to believe is this: that there is no GOD, and that any talk of one existing, is a mere grasping at straws.. a final, weak, pitiful attempt to add meaning to an otherwise, pitiful and meaningless life. A "God of the Gaps", a catch-22, an end-all and be-all for all that can't be explained in this world.
You are all alone in this universe, they seem to say. And concern for your fellow man? That's bullshit, or so they say. You can rob, steal, rape, pillage your neighbor's anything, and you will never have to attone for your "sins" - because, again, as they so believe - there is no God to speak of who will make the final judgment.
During the bad times, you can feel like you've lost some faith, and that it becomes easier to pretend that God doesn't exist. That way, you can have the best of both worlds. You are only be obligated to feel for your fellow man, when you want to -- and for the times you feel like being a selfish prick, you can be just that - because no one is really keeping score anyway. My own personal attendance in church has been spotty lately, due to many so called "excuses" but sometimes, you're just lazy to go. You don't see the point in going. You can't find the time. You become apathetic. Some say that is the real hell. Not so much that you "burn" in hell, but that you are in a time and space where no one will ever care about you, and as a result, you will never care about anything else, either.
Other times, you just don't feel the need to go to Church, as if you could go on living the rest of your life without God. There are also happy times, joyful times, even plentiful and bountiful times when things seem to be going your way, and you are quick to attribute your success all to your own efforts. I've gotten this far without God, so why should I start now?
And then you hear of people like Karol Wojtyla, or Pope John Paul II.
The critic, cynic, and skeptic in you say, "Well he was ordained by God.. He had the right connections, he was born smarter, richer..." and think up of all the excuses why your life right now, will never come to amounting to anything that great -- so a part of you will never even try.
But the fact is that the Pope was probably just like any other man, with his own doubts and fears. He probably faced many hardships and difficulties in going about his work, and in being able to accomplish all the things he has accomplished. No doubt he had enemies and detractors, naysayers who must have said that what he wanted to do was a fool's errand, and would never amount to anything. There were those who probably would have even wanted him to fail, but despite all of this, he persisted. Most importantly, he had the choice, as does everyone who is still alive today, of going out and making something worthwhile out of his life, or not. He chose to be a hero, a leader, a diplomat, a peace-keeper, and a saint, rather than to let history just pass him by. And for that, I respect the man, and mourn his passing, a true loss to the world.
The Pope, more than anyone else here on Earth, knew that God had a mission for him, and was watching over him, all the days of his life. John Paul II was sent down a certain path in his life, was made to undergo certain experiences, hardships, failures, and even a assassination attempt on his life. But rather than give up like any lesser man would have done, he appeared more determined than ever before, to spread the good news, to light beacons of hope in the darkest regions of the world, to stand up for the oppressed, to condemn the unjust, and to provide moral and spiritual guidance to an entire world that desperately needs to believe that their lives have meaning, that each and everyone is born with a purpose and a destiny to fulfill.
Most of all, it was God's mission for Karol Wojtyla to make people believe again, that a God truly does exist...
and that He works his ways here through the only vessels who can carry out HIS mission here on Earth - every single one of us.
In our own little ways, we have to continue the work that is every Catholic's duty today - to carry out those beacons of light and hope, and to shine them in the darkest areas of our world.
-----
Thank you, Lord, for giving us Karol Wojtyla, also known as John Paul II. Thank you for sharing him with us, for passing on Your wisdom through him. And now, we return this holy man to You, confident and reassured that You will take him back with open and loving arms.
Requiem in pace, Karol.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Requiem, Terri
Well, at least she's at peace now.
What saddens me is the anger and hatred that remains.
I was reading on CNN.com, and it said that Michael Schiavo, the husband, planned to have Terri cremated, which isn't a bad thing. What is bad is that he's hiding the location from Terri's family, on the grounds that he didn't want a media circus happening.
B.S.
For me, it's his last act of insult to injury to the family of his wife. I hope mercy and reason prevails, and he allows his in-laws to be able to grieve properly for a member of their family.
What saddens me is the anger and hatred that remains.
I was reading on CNN.com, and it said that Michael Schiavo, the husband, planned to have Terri cremated, which isn't a bad thing. What is bad is that he's hiding the location from Terri's family, on the grounds that he didn't want a media circus happening.
B.S.
For me, it's his last act of insult to injury to the family of his wife. I hope mercy and reason prevails, and he allows his in-laws to be able to grieve properly for a member of their family.
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