Life Isn't by Chance

Purpose. This is what life is really all about.

If you haven't found yours yet, don't be so hard-pressed in finding what it is. It will come to you. Purpose in life is sought out or sorted out. It simply finds you wherever and in whatever state you are.

I was five years old when I had this sudden feeling of panic. I was so young then but when I gazed upon the setting sun through a window of our small Makati City apartment, it hit me -- "What am I here on earth for?"

The sun, so big and majestic on it's heavenly place, represented the mighty Creator. It seemed to look down upon me. I imagined the billions of people on earth who might have thought the same. The sun looking upon each and every being on earth. Amazing how God saw us on an individual basis!

If that was so, would life unfold just by chance? Could we really do anything and not be noticed? Not a chance for sure!

Everyone and everything that we do MUST have a purpose. Even the people we meet and make part of our lives have a reason.

There are no mistakes in life. They normally are planned bumps on life's road or in many instances, detours. Happy victories are not because of our individual circumstances or by coincidence. They are part of the plan. You see, if you believe in a Supreme Being who has created each and every cell in your body, then you should wonder "for what purpose?" He has a plan -- an individual plan, that is.The only thing that will make things go "wrong" is when we defy "the plan."

I have always believed that the most important thing created in us is the heart. This is where the "will" resides. The "will" is both God's will and our own that drives us to our direction. I believe that God's plan and timing are ALWAYS PERFECT. Nothing He does will be by accident. So we are definitely not here by accident. We just need to examine our heart more to know of our purpose. Remember, God resides in and speaks through the heart. Listen.

Our conscience is our compass. It is not connected to our brain but is wired to our heart. It works on a database of experiences and learnings. Thus, if we just meditate and pray for wisdom and discernment, we will definitely know where and when to go. As timing is also crucial, this bit has to be specifically prayed for as well.Just remember that prayers are always answered. We just have to accept the answer even if we don't agree with it.

Choices. Why are we always faced with crossroads? This is the exciting part of life. This is also a gift that God has given us. We are free to choose what door to open or what road to take. Scared to choose which door to open or which road to take? Pray. Listen to your heart. Besides, even the angels had their choices, right? One chose to be king and above the Creator and was given the key to hell.He should have stayed loyal to His Creator instead.

So life which resides in all of us isn't by chance. Let's not wait till we're in mid-life to ask ourselves "where to?" but instead always pray and seek your heart on "where to now?"
It's the "now" that's really important. Yesterday ended last night and tomorrow may never come.

Throw the dice away. You don't need it.

That Joy You Bring

Joy is the word I would describe
The way I feel about you.
It might be because of your charm
That accompanies your smile,
Or the way you do your hair
That captures me to a constant gaze.

You astonish me with your wisdom;
And the strength of your soul
Encompasses my world,
As nothing in me and within me
Escapes the aura of stillness and calm
That you bring into my life.

I am enchanted by your inner being.
Happiness rules your life.
Your faith and will are impregnable.
Your naive but complete honesty
Betrays the innocence of your heart.
There lies the strength of your character.

Tomorrow may bring sadness,
But surely it will never overcome
The joy you continue to bring into me
Tomorrow may bring sadness,
But surely it will never overcome
The joy you continue to bring into me
For there will always be more days
Of sunshine than rain
Knowing you’ll always be around.

(a poem I gave my wife Jinky for our anniversary in 2006)

Pagiging Tuso Papuntang Langit

Luke 16: 1-8

“...Pinuri ng panginoon ang mandarayang katiwala dahil sa katalinuhang ipinamalas nito. Sapagkat ang mga makasanlibutan ay mas mahusay gumawa ng paraan kaysa mga maka-Diyos.”

May isang Hapon na nakakaalam ng “Yamashita Treasure,” ang pumuntang Maynila upang ito ay makuha. Sa kasamaang palad, may mga masasamang loob ang nakatunton sa kanya at pinagbantaan siyang papatayin kung hindi niya sasabihin kung nasaan ang kayamanan. Dahil hindi naman sila marunong mag Niponggo, kumuha sila ng tagapag-salin o interpreter na Pinoy.

“Sabihin mo sa Hapong iyan, kapag hindi niya sinabi sa amin kung saan nakatago ang Yamashita treasure, papatayin namin siya!” sabi ng mga lalaki. At ito rin naman ang sinabi ng interpreter sa Hapon sa salitang Niponggo.

Sa salitang Niponggo, nagsumamo ang Hapon na huwag siyang patayin. Sasabihin na niya kung nasaan ang kayamanan. Sa salitang Hapon, sinabi niya na ang kayamanan ay nasa likod ng simbahan ng Malate sa Maynila, limang hakbang mula sa pinto ng Sacristy. Anim na talampakan ang huhukayin upang ito’y makuha.

Ang sabi naman ng Pinoy na interpreter sa mga lalaki, “Pinasasabi po ng Hapong ito na matapang siya. Handa raw siyang mamatay!”

Kung pera ang pinag-uusapan, maaari tayong maging tuso. Bakit kaya sa mga bagay na ukol sa ating kaligtasan, tila hindi tayo tuso?

Hindi naman itinataas ni Hesus ang sinungaling na katiwala sa ating nabasa sa Lukas 16, kung hindi sa kanyang pagiging tuso. Hindi Niya sinasabing maging sinungaling tayo. Naghahanap Siya ng lubos na katusuhan o galing upang tayo’y makapunta sa Langit.

(Isinalin mula kay Fr. Bobby Titco)

Pagnilayan:

Sa anong paraan natin magagamit ang ating talino upang makarating sa Langit?