Undeniable Mercy

Exactly nine days after the tragic hostage crisis drama in Manila ended in the loss of eight lives of innocent Hongkong tourists at the hands of a disgruntled ex-policeman, my colleague and I were flagged down by the local Chinese police at a routinary checkpoint in Zhuhai. That crisis was very much a headline and heated item for both countries. My heart palpitated like a drum roll as the officer motioned me to step out of the car I was driving. Despite knowing and understanding a little bit of the Chinese language, I opted to speak in straight english with the officer in the hopes of evading further inquiries which, at that particular moment, might lead to something a lot of Filipinos in China and Hongkong feared and felt – unwarranted backlash against Filipinos. Notwithstanding that I recognized his question about my nationality, I dodged the question by calmly yet consistently denying understanding his question and gesturing to make a phone call to our Chinese manager for assistance.

He looked closely at my driving license and stared at me.

Afterwards he swiftly whisked his hand towards the direction of our destination.

“He is letting me go”, I said to myself.

I thanked him and we left.

Only after I arrived home was I totally aghast to see that clearly marked beside my name in the driver’s license was my Filipino nationality.

The police officer knew it all along.

As a practicing Catholic, there are admittedly occasions when I have been in “denial” of my faith and beliefs. I am not even talking about faith renunciations at the thought of religious persecutions which the saints in the past surpassed or about the zealously intellectual defence of apologetics againts attacks by believers from other sects. I am particularly guilty of them in the daily humdrums of my life. When I wake up each morning, how many times have I jumped to a lot of others activities without any prayer prelude? I rush myself getting into the car and revving up the engine without a short pause to ask for driving assistance. During work, how many times have I resorted to white lies just to get the necessary result within the shortest time possible? And if office stuffs and issues becomes stresfully difficult to handle and things do not work out as I planned, then I would resort to unrestrained anger. I have my prejudices, less-than-pure glances, self-righteous rationalizations, annoyances, lazy circumstances, uninformed opinions which ran opposed to the teachings of the church and a few more sins that clouded the truth of His presence in my life. At night, I go home tired and would, now and again, half-consciously pray with my wife as we prepare to rest.

And to top it all, I, every now and then, would act as if everything is still fine with me,simply forgetting and forgoing any exerted effort to remedy or improve the situation.

Honestly speaking,” Who am I kidding?”.

The Lord knows all these details even if I forget them as soon as a new day comes and even as I conveniently dismissed them. There’s no denying all these offenses I am committing against Him. They are clearly written beside my name in His book of life and only a conscientious confession and a firm resolve to mend my ways can lead me to a forgiven and a new life.

When St. Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus encouraged him to redeem himself with an equal three-time confession and directive to “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). Yes, the goods news remains up to our present time. Our denials are also opportunities for our redemption through God’s endless stream of divine mercy.

So how long have you been denying the Lord?

Isn’t it about time we go to confession and to follow His directive?

God bless.

God's Plan

I have been an OFW for more than ten years now. And so from time to time, especially the last year or so, I will admit getting the zealous desire to return to our home country. Now this is initially set to be sometime within next year. As a result of these thoughts for the past few months, my wife and I have been making concrete and definitive plans and steps for alternative means to earning money through entrepreneurship while trying to secure our long-term goal of providing a modest retirement nest for both of us as well.

We recently reactivated our government social security system memberships in order to complete the mandatory twelve year contributions to qualify for future pensions and other benefits. We started investing in stock markets (I just earned a few thousand pesos with the recent upward trend in Philippine stock market!) to add opportunities into our passive-income generating portfolio. We put up our very first owned land property in the south area for sale in the hopes of funding up one of the small business options we are planning to invest into. We plan to (and hopefully be able) to keep our existing health-care insurance to keep us relatively worry-free amidst the sky-rocketing medical expenses. Other possibilities and conditions are on the table for our careful study and consideration.

As for the humble beginnings of our small family ministry, Maia Outreach Programs, we will maintain our vow and commitment to bring and give any possible assistance to the needy children the Lord will sent our way. But for this to be doable, we also must set aside our time, talent and tithes consistently, in addition to good friends who support MOP financially and spiritually.

Obviously, all of these planning can be mostly summed up as financial security for our family which was the main reason for me working in this foreign land. Careful planning is a must before we ever make that final decision to go home. However, my own fear of the uncertainties of what the future holds for my family can still occasionally grip or even cuff me down into delaying our conceived plans.

In these times, I have only two choices - to continue entertaining the unholy jeer of fear or to be focus on what I feel is God's calling for my family, the next stage that He prepared for our journey and mission in life.

In these times, I can rely on St. Pauls assurance to the Philippians when he wrote, " Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (4:6-7)

In these times, I will choose to follow His prodding and live by His promise, "...and behold I am with you always, until the end of age." (Matthew 28:20)

Afterwards, I feel my fears fading away.

And the better I can see God's plan conquering my own.

Dear friends, have you been delaying God's plan for your life because of valid cares and concerns?
Then, pray intensely and intently for these not to go away (they are valid concerns, right?) but to be swept under God's divine and merciful providence, so you can finally act on His will accordingly.

Because God's plan is always the best plan for us.

God bless.

To Give More or To Give All

The Giving Pledge.
We all heard the astronomical philanthropic pledges of the world's richest persons in response to the initiatives of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet several years ago. And though some people had gamely put malice over their intentions, nobody can deny the enormity of the impact of their actions with regards to helping and reaching out to the poorest of the poor. It was estimated that their committed pledges could total as high as 230 billion dollars when pooled together.

For those interested to see who among the billionaires gave their moral commitment, please check their site - http://givingpledge.org


The Giving Edge
I accidentally watched a Hongkong news feature about "Auntie Kwan". She was a Hongkong elderly person who is supported by a regular hand-outs from her children and a low government subsidy for the elderly. She lives in a very small house without a ceiling and other home furniture or appliances. She does not buy food in the market and just cooks the vegetables that she grows in her small backyard. One could easily think that she is a frugal but rich old lady with savings to sustain her in the future. But she actually has no money at all. Because as soon as she gets the money from her children and from the government subsidy, she grabs her trolley bag and buy goodies and stuffs that she readily gives out to absolutely anybody in need that she meets. No question asked. No ifs. No buts. She has been doing this for more than 30 years now ! During days when she is flat-out penniless, she visits homes for the elderly and chats, sings and play with them, bringing along her indefatigable zest for life. And it is a little wonder because everyday for her is a gift from God to whom she sings her praise and poem on her every morning.

The billionaires and Auntie Kwan are poles apart in terms of financial standing and influence but the effects on the people who are direct recipients of their kindness are the same. They feel joy. They feel hope. They feel alive.

These people feel love.

So for a lot of us who are still procrastinating with the mind-set of "I will give when I have enough", just remember the many people like Auntie Kwan who never have anything and yet has "given her all" (Mark 12: 42-44).

These billionaires are raising the bar of world philanthropy.
Auntie Kwan, and those like her, continue to raise the joy of selfless giving without measure.
In the end, they both give out the same message and challenge - that everybody has something good to offer to others.

Go ahead and share God's love in your own selfless ways.

God bless.