One time in a supermarket, my two sons decided
to have fun (oh no, not again!) by running around through the mazes of display
cabinets, freezers and fruit stands. Aim would playfully prod his kuya to play “catch
me” as he giggled and scurried away. I was a bit worried for Aim to get lost as
he is simply too young to know his surroundings so I followed and kept watch at
a distance. To my amazement, however, he did not wander far and stay within my
sight.
With curiosity getting the better of me, I
observed his actions closer.
It was then that I noticed that every time Aim
would reached and realized he is in an unfamiliar spot, he would look up and
gaze his eyes around until he finds something. He would then start to rush towards
that high object and stop just below it. It was a giant colorful replica of a fruit
basket (or fruit-pail if there is one). My genius son (ehem) was actually using
that hanging figure as his guide and starting point before resuming his next run.
That was how he did not get lost.
He just needed to look up.
In this time of great scientific advancements, humans
can now look at things that our forefathers would never have dreamt of.
Nowadays, we can see the deep recesses of the universe using powerful
telescopes like the ALMA or Atacama Large Millimeter Array telescope in Chile.
We can also undergo minimally invasive medical procedures called laparoscopic
surgery with tiny telescopes to allow the surgeon to view the procedure. Even
the gadget world has welcomed the introduction of an internet-ready eye wear to
recognize faces and provide their information through on-line social networks.
Now that holy week is here, may we set aside
all visual attractions and distractions to look up and seek God. Sad to say,
even though God’s presence can be visualized in everything, everyone and in every
situation, more and more people are becoming less aware of His all-embracing
love. Worse, His misinterpreted “absence” becomes our alibi for straying
farther, our excuse for staying far and our justification for being lost.
The simple, yet unwavering and eternal truth is
that God exists and that He cares. He does not want us to stay away or stray farther
but to find our way back to Him. He does not want us to be lost but to be found.
He cared and loved us so much that He shared in our humanity to be physically
seen and verbally heard by the people of His time and later, to suffer
intensely and be put to death on the cross for you and me.
If you still have doubts, then look up at our
suffering Jesus on the cross.
If you want re assurance, then look up to our resurrected Savior this Easter.
God bless.
