By Design

A few years ago, I was forced to use the CAD software as my work scope has included the editing and translation of suppliers technical drawings from chinese to english. Admittedly, IT is one where my knowledge have a lot of wants so when a colleague of mine taught me some basics, I was ecstatic about this newly-learned software.

By this time though, I still have a lot of wonder about the CAD software. If I look at the control and function buttons displayed on my screen, I can count at least 75 buttons that when clicked will open several more optional tasks related to that function. And as I would sheepishly disclose, my work could be much easier if I only have maximum 8 buttons on display which I really needed (and which I understand how to use) and cancel or hide the rest that would grow algae-bytes due to non-usage. Yes, I stand by my conviction that the other buttons are useless not because it is the reality but because of the certainty that I lack full understanding of their usefulness.

The software designer is not at fault at all.

Now, have you heard about an atheist’s common rebuttal that our present world could have never been designed by God (or in their definition - a higher deity) because of its many flaws, un-optimal and downright useless stuffs? They would make examples like (I am going to quote-unquote an intelligent atheist we are in discussion in the Kfam forum)

-In the African locust, nerve cells start in the abdomen but connect to the wing. This leads to unnecessary use of materials.
-barely used nerves and muscles (e.g. plantaris muscle) that are missing in part of the human population and are routinely harvested as spare parts if needed during operations.
-intricate reproductive devices in orchids, apparently constructed from components commonly having different functions in other flowers.
-the use by pandas of their enlarged radial sesamoid bones in a manner similar to how other creatures use thumbs.

His resourced comments are too science-y for me to refute, but such open questions should only lead a limited person like us to humble ourselves because what these scientific observations prove is that we are far, far away from fully understanding and comprehending the purpose that God put into each particular creatures and their parts. And it is somewhat foolish to declare that this and that are un-optimal and “logically” would have never been made by an omniscient, omnipotent and omni-benevolent God because the present scientific findings can not find any plausible explanation for such existence.

God, the Designer, is not at fault at all if our limited knowledge is incapable of grasping His purpose for every creatures of the world.

Fr, Raniero Cantalamessa, the Vatican’s household preacher, testified in one of his Sunday gospel preaching that these kind of thinking focuses on the “pursuit” of truth rather than the “truth” itself and that their closure to every revelation from above, and thus to faith, is not caused by intelligence but by pride, a special pride that refuses all dependence and claims an absolute autonomy.

Let us pray for atheists that their very own demand for reasoning and logic will be their tool towards recognizing and acknowledging God.

For this reason alone, I am glad that I am not wise by human standard yet sustained in faith by the grace of God.

John 14:6-7 says,
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

Believing and having faith in our Lord is the only truth I need to know.

God bless.

Thick mud

by Ms. Bea Leones

Typhoon Frank caused a very great damage to our country lately. Kalibo was one place that was greatly hit. People have seen and experienced the most incredible devastation in their life caused by flash flood. Many people lost their homes and loved ones and are still suffering until now. I was lucky enough to have my place in the fourth floor of a building and so I witnessed the water level soaring up in so short a time. While taking pictures I didn’t help feeling a little bit guilty being safe and comfortable in my place while others were in deep water struggling for their lives. I thought about the kids, the babies and the olds. I thought about my family in Capiz. Eventually I learned they were alright. The province wasn’t badly hit.

After the flash flood , came thick mud all over the place. I reported for work the following Monday to see the damage in our office. The water reached up to three feet inside. All our computers were under water. The mud inside were almost ankle deep . Everything were in chaos. It was already a week when the water was restored and the thick mud that was all over the office were already cleared. In our pantry, I noticed not a few things were still unwashed and so I decided to clean it up myself.

I was cleaning then, washing the kitchen utensils particularly those with mud. Some plastic utensils and food containers I throw away to save me from cleaning. But there was this one particular container that I didn’t want to touch. Dried mud was all over it. I was having a second thought of throwing it away. I decided to finish the rest and later decide what to do with it. I have been cleaning a lot from the kitchen already and I felt tired. Added to that, the water flowing from the faucet were very slow. Inside of me tells me to start cleaning the container already but I kept on hesitating because the mud was thicker than most of the things I cleaned. Nonetheless, I started cleaning it.

I was pulling away the thick mud when something inside me ask, “What if you were that food container, Bea, how would you feel?” Suddenly a realization came into me. I saw myself in that container. In reality, my sins are indeed thicker than the mud that has clothed it. As I poured water into it, the mud softened and I could easily remove the mud. I know my sin could not be softened by a drop of water, it has to be a drop of the blood of Jesus. God would not have second thought in cleaning this container. He wouldn’t even throw any that is in sight even though how tired He would be. He love me so much He would make a way for me to become useful no matter how thickly clothed I would be of mud or sin.

Suddenly I felt my self energized as I started scrubbing the container with all my might. Since mud had dried up, it can not be easily removed. The container seems so really and very like me! A lot of filth has dried up in my body because of sin. As I was scrubbing it I found myself repeating , “I want to belong, I want to be useful in the Gods Kingdom”. Slowly the brand of the container became visible. To my surprise it was not a cheaper kind but a Tupperware. One small piece of a Tupperware costs a lot these days. If only I knew what kind of a food container was it, I would have cleaned it first and didn’t hesitate to clean it no matter how hard the mud was in it.

God isn’t like me, and you. To Him everyone is special. All His creations are branded with the finest quality only He could make. No matter how thickly clothed we may be of sin, He will make a way to make us shine and become as white a snow. He doesn’t lose patient is scrubbing us even though how hard the mud has clothed us because of our stubbornness and pride. He keeps on scrubbing our mud by calling us, prodding us, teaching us. He uses our friends, our family, cell phones, computers, books, internet and many others as His scrub to get our attention. Every incidents in our daily life, He uses it to purify us, to keep us stronger and to make us gain the virtues we need like patience, humility, love and many others.

Most of all we have the sacrament of reconciliation to cleanse our soul and be united with Him again. Every single mud or sin inside us gone, thus, we are able to receive His grace and blessings.

Do you feel God's scrubbing you today?

Behave and be cleaned…… from thick mud!