The Ways of Nature

I remember few years back on a retreat, I was seating under the tree absorbed by nature but searching for answers. For almost an hour I couldn’t figure out what was Gods message for me. Then at the last few minutes, I felt the Lord telling me to look around on the flowers, the grass, and the branches and leaves of the trees. “Observe the ways of nature, look at the leaves waiting for the wind to sway. Look at the flowers, waiting for the bees to come to admire its beauty. Look at the ground waiting for the leaves to fall to enrich its soil. My ways are the ways of nature. Always in my pacing, never late, never advance, always on time.” There was tremendous peace that I felt, I was overwhelmed, and I couldn’t explain my feelings.

I always go back to that experience everytime I am troubled. When everything seems dark and unending, I will hear His voice, “Look around, do not worry, my ways are the ways of nature.” I also look back with so much gratefulness everytime I felt overwhelmed by His goodness, it makes me exclaim, “Your ways O Lord, is perfect!” It is overwhelming how the Lord answers our questions at His perfect time.

When we receive the answer to our question at the right time we appreciate the answer in its fullness. Blessing becomes more meaningful and deeply appreciated. This is the beauty of the ways of God.

Lord, grant us the grace of the ways of nature. Amen.

by aats 

The One Constant

In fast-paced world, sometimes we are having a hard time coping up with everything latest, we end up confused as to what we want to have or want to do.

We need to slow down in order appreciate the things we take for granted and the people we love. Sa pagmamadali nakakaligtaan ang mga bagay na mas mahalaga. Hindi kailangan palaging nagmamadali para makamit ang hinahangad, sapagkat mahalaga rin ang mga natatagpuan habang naglalakad patungo sa pinapangarap. (In hurrying we overlook the more important things. There is no need to be always in a hurry in order to achieve what we want because while walking towards our dreams, the things we discover along are important too.)

When confused because of change, we look up to Him who is the same yesterday, today and forever. There is consolation in the truth that everything may change but His love remains.

In a world of rapid change, it is comforting to know that there is one constant, Jesus.

by aats 

Some Thoughts

Today is my first full day in my new mission area. How about starting the mission with a mass, I asked myself. So I attended one and some thoughts came into my mind.

Mission begins and ends with the Eucharist. Apart from the Eucharist, mission is fruitless and meaningless. Another thing is that we are always home in mission. Anywhere we go, so long as we carry Christ, we are home. You are home in mission.

by aats

Listen, Love and Dream

I just arrived last night here in Calgary. I’ve been reassigned here for mission. I cannot help but look back with gratitude to God for allowing me to experience amazing grace when I was based in Toronto. God is an awesome God!

I experienced genuine love and care. I went there for mission supposedly to enrich others and I ended up enriched myself. I realized that when we forego ourselves for Christ, Christ embraces us the more. The more we forget our wants and cares the more He lavishes us beyond our needs.

I’ve learned a lot in my mission in the east, but for now, let me focus on three: Listen, Love and Dream.

I’ve learned to listen. Listening is an essential part of mission. Without a listening heart and mind, it’s easy to make mistakes and misjudgments. When we start listening attentively to ourselves we become more grounded, we will know our limitations and we will know what we can do. Figments of imagination banishes when we listen to what our heart says.

I’ve learned to love. Yes, love. It is easy to love when everything is good. But love is tested when situation are bad and we encounter seemingly unlovable people. It made me realize I am also unlovable at times, so why not stretch myself more and love; not just understand someone, but love.

I’ve learned to dream more. You know when you are long already in mission, sometimes it seems like you’re hitting a wall, but Toronto provided an open door. It brought me to places beyond my imagination. I went to Montreal and Ottawa; I even went to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I flew to Newfoundland and Bermuda. I also went to the land where the sun never sets, in Nunavut and road trips down to the Gulf of Mexico. All these and more! It opened my mind to more possibilities. It made me dream more for the mission and even for myself. To dream is to hope. Hope becomes more vivid in dreams. Then by dreaming, we find courage to make it happen. Somehow reality is easier to achieve when we dream for it.

So as I continue, walk with me O Lord and grant me the grace to listen, love and dream. Amen.

by aats

Don’t Vote For

Don’t vote for politicians who are making livelihood out of politics. It is not a livelihood, it is public service! Don’t vote for politicians who are making business out of politics. It is not a business, it is public service! When politicians starts thinking that it is a livelihood and a business that’s when corruption starts and the public will suffer.

(Huwag iboto ang mga politikong ginagawang hanapbuhay ang politika. Hindi hanapbuhay ang politika, ito ay serbisyo publiko! Huwag iboto ang mga politikong ginagawang negosyo ang politika. Hindi negosyo ang politika, ito ay serbisyo publiko! Kapag ang politiko ay nagsimula ng mag-isip na ito ay hanapbuhay at negosyo, dito nagsisimula ang kurapsyon at ang taong bayan ang maghihirap.)

By discerning well there words from there actions, we can see consistency and integrity. There are those who are good in words but full of hidden evils! They love to flatter the electorate with flowery words and too good to be true promises. They look beautiful and polished outside yet inside full of worms and decay. These are dangerous people because they hit without you knowing it.

We have the right to demand the best service from our elected officials but first we need to vote for the right one.

by aats