by:
Bro. Rene Tumang
Last Saturday, we were caught by the heavy traffic from South going to Quezon City rushing to attend to another
engagement. I felt hungry while on our
way and never expected anymore that I could catch the commitment. I arrived late on the venue. Unfortunately, I was asked why I came late
but did not ask whether I was famished, he jokingly said.
Prior
to this commitment, I woke at 2:45AM with a weak body gasping for God’s grace. I opened my ipad and closed my eyes after a
while but I could not sleep although I was aware that God was just around. “Show me anything Lord in a fraction of a
second,” I beseech Him. You can
actually turn the world upside down in a fraction of a second,” I pondered.
Asking
for a consolation out of loyalty for the ministry for a long time, I implored
God to bless my family. Recognizing His
provision for the globe that evolves with permanence, precision and perfection,
I listened and waited to grasp for wisdom.
“There’s
no gadget that could be invented to capture Your beauty Lord which is beyond
life and knowledge. Lord, bestow me even with a glimpse that would
give me strength to go on,” I entreated
Him as if I was a little child.
My
memory sailed me to an acquaintance, an Indonesian who is a good Priest and an
idol whose name is Fr. Alfon Sebatu with whom I learned the beautiful song "One Day at a Time."
I
hang around and asked many things but God never responded. “Lord, I am now Your slave and I am captured,”
I exclaimed. I can speak in English when
talking to Him and thus spoke in this manner, “Lord can You bless my family
because it has been a countless times that I’ve been neglecting them as a
father while I’ve been a slave to You.
Not sooner, I slumbered with my Rosary on my right palm and a Cross on
my left.
From
2:45Am to 5AM, I could not sleep and geared up for my commitment as the sun broke
forth. Calling the community to confirm
my divine appointment, I sent them an inspirational message after which. I went to the venue afterwards and was the
early bird than the participants.
What
do we need for us to be blessed? No one
can be sanctified without the Word of God.
We may have been in a life-long journey, however, we’re more on a human effort perhaps but lacking of entwining
to His Divine Will.
The
Divine Will should be sought, embraced primarily than personal gratification. This world is loaded with different battles – hunger for wealth,
disgruntled craving that falls between the hungry and the bloated, the social status between the poor and the greedy rich.
Based
on observation as I go around to the communities,
growth and transformation simply evolve within its perimeters but without the
transforming effects in our lives, by reaching out beyond.
If
God is the author of life, Satan is the author of lies. No matter how numerous is the amount of
dosage of medicine that you’ll intake, vigor can never be conserved in the
middle of deceit. Be afraid of lies
because this is life’s termites which gradually eat up one’s vitality.
This
reminds me of a monk who toured in Manila through a generous friend who owns KFC. Inside SM North Mall, with
enthusiasm in her heart, the latter asked him and the grandchildren to buy
anything they hanker after that would fit the cart and she’ll be the one to
shoulder everything. After two and a half hours as pre-arranged, while everybody
met in the counter, the monk was missing.
They were surprised as the monk approached because his cart was bare. The monk says, “The merchandise is
overwhelming and beautiful to behold. I never imagined that the world has gone
this far yet. Nevertheless, I realized
that I don’t need them in the monastery.” The KFC owner’s mood had shrugged in tears by
this unexpected unfussiness.
In
relation to this, when were residing in the slum area of Manila,
I was compelled to probe something unusual.
At the time, I was wondering because it had been habitual that a neighbor’s house owned by the
blind couple had always been filled with people particularly in the morning at around
10:30AM. My curiosity led me to discover
that this blind couple had been into lending.
The people who could regularly be seen in their house are there to
either settle their accountability or lend cash. Paradoxically, this blind couple could save
money than these people with complete physical faculties because of their simplest
subsistence.
“My
son you only live on a borrowed time but I am your God not bound by time.” We
are busy preparing for the future, buying of stocks, savings,
dreaming dreams, tour around the world, shopping spree. Selfishness does not covet an unembellished life
but the Spirit yearns for simplicity.
When I notice that our toothpaste is almost empty
and swallow the viand without savoring its taste anymore because of its
unusual taste compared to the old times of abundance, there I found God and
lament, “Lord, I need You!”
In
this life, we secure our personal life but fail to shield other’s life. We crave for many things but never been
satisfied by the love of God, refuse to tie the knot with Him. Let us go beyond our human limitations towards
the holiness of Christ.
Prayer:
Take
my heart and my mind. Cleanse me and
make me whole. Grant that I may do Your
will. When darkness comes, hide me. Remind me of the weak, , the hungry, the
poorest of the poor when I remember myself.
Take my worldly ambition. Let me
know that you’re with me. Fill me with
Your life. Be my greatest Friend and
Father...Amen!
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