A PICTURE SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS

The tropical storm Ondoy aftermath.

Courage is the unspoken language of the hurting and suffering.

This is just several of many other images... and there are many more much heartbreaking than this.

Flooded streets, crowded evacuation centers, broken families, sick babies, the helpless elderly and handicapped, destroyed homes, roads, landslides, etc. Homes, livelihood, and lives were lost. Thousands have joined hands, resources, and energies in relief operations but so much more is needed for food, warm clothes, shoes, medicines, drinking water, shelter --- and too of hope, strength, courage, faith, prayers and miracles.

TS Ondoy/Ketsana hurt my country and people more than anything else imagined.... To all kindhearted souls listening out there...

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/27/09/tropical-storm-ondoy-how-you-can-help

BELIEVE IT'S ALL FOR A REASON

I said this to someone recently who was suffering a setback:

"Nope, you don't always get what you want in life. Not always. But when you get the chance, try to you look hard at what's happening, you'll see that it's for a very good reason.

Oh maybe you won't understand why now, but at some point in the future when the dust has settled and you look back to today... you will see and understand. Because by some Divine Design, it always works out well for your good in the end."

You know, it always does. By some strange design, everything has its reason for being. Everything that goes on in your life was put there for a reason. Yeah, good and bad. But the lessons are there for us to learn. And learn them well, we should.

BUSY IS NOT REALLY WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT

The day is almost over. So what was today like? Overcast skies, dreary news on TV, and people everywhere I look just plain darn busy. Oh but busy is okay. Yeah, we need to be busy to put bread on the table, to send our children to school, to put clothes on our bodies, to buy things and stuff, to feel secure, to be important, to be respected, to achieve something, to reach for the stars.

The only problem I can see is -- they seem such a huge burden, like life is nothing but...

getting busy, doing busy, thinking busy, talking busy, dreaming busy, playing busy, praying busy.

Really. Is that all there is to life and living?? No joy?? You tell me.

WRITING FROM THE HEART

The other day someone said to me 'Love reading you.' I thanked the person and smiled carrying those words in my heart. It could mean two things really: she loves the writing -- or -- she loves seeing 'me (or bits of me, she thinks; curious aye? hehehe..)' in those lines that I write.

A writer can be both. Because a writer true to his calling and passion will only write from the heart. Life, within and without, as seen through his eyes translates itself unto the printed page. But why does a writer write?

In pursuing a 'passion', you don't bother to ask why. You simply relish enjoy - delight in the process. But writer or not, when you feel that you have something to say and you feel that nudge in your heart, go ahead and say it or write it. Just be sure that it's something which will bring a smile to another person's heart or day.

God's gifts are meant to bring joy and smiles into your life and if allowed -- to somebody else's life too. :-) God bless you!!

WE ARE BLESSED

We never can comprehend the magnificence of our God. See all the love, mercy, care, blessing, healing, provision, protection, forgiveness, guidance that God delights in pouring out upon us each day.

Savor it, receive it, rejoice in it, grow in it, serve with it, and remember to appreciate it with the fullness of childlike humility honesty sincerity and gratitude from the heart.

Understand how very blessed we are. Because we truly are!

HOW DO YOU SPELL -- GIVE

How do you spell the word 'give'?

It's spelled as ... c-o-m-p-a-s-s-i-o-n.

When you give, it simply means that you ---

--- clearly see, can understand, can relate, do sympathize, do care, do love -- the other

.....who may not be as bright, as well-positioned, as educated, as rich, as healthy, as well-dressed, or as beautiful as you are.

You give because you see the other person's need to receive.

And you respond as God responds.

Giving straight from the heart..... is the blueprint of GIVE... and of giving.

MY NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE PEOPLE AND ME

My neighborhood is an average one and small. This is a subdivision settled at the foot by the side of a mountain range in my city that nestles atop it - Antipolo. Here, where I have made my home, one sees about dozens of modest houses sitting side by side and housing families within carrying on with the regular routines of each day. A paved road ragged in some areas winds round the neighborhood up hill and down and leads out to the main gate passing the guardhouse where a sentry stands watch day and night. And mingled with the houses are trees lush and green dotting the place everywhere you look. Adding to the green landscape are mini gardens fronting almost every home lining almost every street. If not a garden, in lieu would be potted plants neatly set in a row. Nice and green.

I love this place. And I wish that life and people were so much the same – serene, calm, and peaceful. But it isn’t. Life as we know it is an interesting tapestry of ecstatic moments, surprises, near mishaps, misfortunes, fragmented dreams, and challenges. And people --- are just as diverse as that fascinating mix we call life.

So I like studying people. There is so much I can learn from watching them. They teach me things and stuff I would have not given any thought to at all; they inspire me to be better than I could ever be; they show me how to understand my own weaknesses and strengths by looking at theirs; they tell me what hope is by their show of courage and faith through trials; they increase my knowledge and wisdom by their own display of wit and intelligence; they remind me to laugh by their humor and delight over mundane things; and too understand my own foolishness by watching them stumble with theirs. When I see them in their human form, the complete package of mind, body and soul God so designed --- I see me, myself, and mine. And I begin to understand that we are each at best both teachers and students to one another.

ANYWAY

I woke up to a fine morning, got up leisurely from my bed and sauntered over to the bedroom window ... looked out to the day-- it looked like it was going to be a good day despite the clearly overcast skies. Why? I don’t know. Maybe it’s a feeling one gets when everything within is peaceful, serene, and quite content. Not that nothing is bothersome or ‘kicking butt’ mine or somebody else’s, it’s just that some mornings do give us that ‘feel good’ feeling. Well, this is that particular morning.

Apparently the neighborhood has had a good head start getting on with the day’s routine of chores. I hear a neighbor’s washing machine spinning away with their usual laundry. Coming down the street are young children in their blue crisp uniforms on their way to school. Following not far behind are two housewives perhaps on their way to the market, too. (‘Wonder what they’re going to cook up for lunch today.) A car passing them slows briefly down to a halt; Mr. Perez, behind the wheel on his way to work, takes time to greet the ladies. Right across my window stands a proud mango tree with its trimmed branches (done ‘bout 2-3 months ago by Mr. Noble, my favorite neighbor) now growing new leaves in places where it used to be bare. And seen below at the foot of the tree is a small low-lying bush happily holding up its new blossoms for everyone to see. (‘Wonder though if people passing by do notice.)

Quite an ordinary scene repeated in many places everywhere. In fact, I think it’s down pat to routine, for the human part that is. As for nature, it does what it does best always --- live. So it really is this – that no matter the threat of terrorist bomb scares, a heavy downpour, or whether somebody is gravely sick or has died today – they’ll do it anyhow. People get on with their lives. Nature does the same. Even if war explodes this very minute, it won’t stop the roses from blooming. They’ll do it anyway.

In just the same manner, do the good that you want to do. Teach your students well, close that major contract for your company, minister to your sick patients, police your area, speak up for the underprivileged, serve in a civic program for the handicapped, or continue loving your unlovable friend. No matter how you may feel - or despite the risk of being misunderstood - or if friends tell you that you’re overextending yourself this time, do it anyway. It’s not meant to please anyone; it’s something you must do because you believe in it. And by the way, has it ever crossed your mind that God despite our unworthiness loves us anyway? Lovely, isn’t it?!

Read this poem late last night.....

ANYWAY
by Mother Theresa of Calcutta

People are often unconscious, illogical and self-centered
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish and ulterior motives
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people will cheat you
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight
Build anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow
Be good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God
It was never between you and them anyway.

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