Following Calls

When I was still in high school, Sir Kiking (our religious education teacher) beautifully explained to us life’s three equally important calls: [1.] the religious life, [2.] the married life, and [3.] the blessed singleness. Of course you can choose only one. I was thinking of choosing the first call but I end up heeding the second.

Later in life, I realized that each day we are faced with a lot of calls and each of them demands our wise decision. Some of them are so simple (such as choosing which clothes to wear, whether to drink Coke or not, etc.) and some are complicated (such as deciding which course to take in college or whether or not you should change your job). Sometimes we find it hard to decide which path we should follow but I think decision making is a necessary a part of the free gift of will and intellect which was given to us back the time we were conceived in our mother’s womb.

Just recently, I have been facing the dilemma of changing my career. It’s not that I no longer care for the environment. It’s because I have been thinking a lot about my family’s welfare. I have been working with an environmental NGO for about nine (9) years now and I so love the job that I hate even the thought of leaving. But the problem is I still got nothing saved in the bank until now. Now that my mother is sick and my wife and I are at the brink of unemployment because of the said organization's critical financial status, something tells me that I should lift that butt and start looking for something else.

What lies before me now is the choice of staying with this NGO until the end or to start a new career as an insurance agent. I’ve attended several meetings and seminars with an insurance company and known of people who became successful in this business in such a short period of time. It’s a very tempting choice but the problem is I don’t have much connections and definitely not a single experience in selling, except maybe the time when I tended my grandmother’s sari-sari (variety) store when I was still a kid. But they say that in time I will be able to build a good number of referrals and knowledge and skills in selling will be earned from the numerous free seminars that the company is offering. I have been considering this job a lot but I still have doubts and fears.

I’ve heard a sermon by Chuck Swindoll of Insight for Living just recently which talks about our very limited vision of things. He says that in due time (or especially when we are finally home with our Heavenly Father) we will see ALL things being unfolded before us. By then we will understand the purpose of each and every event of our life. But now that our vision is still limited, we can be assured that God’s loving hand is constantly guiding us even in the darkest or lowest moments of our life. All we have to do is to hold that hand (to trust God completely) and we will arrive at our destination safe and sound.

This idea may not be able to solve my dilemma right now but it gives me the assurance that God is in control – that he is sustaining our every single need. I know that he will always be there taking care of me and my family whatever my decision will be. All I need to do is to “[t]rust in the Lord with all [mine] heart; and lean not unto [mine] own understanding. In all [my] ways [I’ll] acknowledge him, and he shall direct [my] paths.” (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

No room for superstition

A couple of weeks ago while I was making our small backyard garden ready for transplanting some cabbage seedlings, a neighbor dropped by to talk about some concerns. In the course of our conversation, he mentioned that it's not good to keep any sour crops or sour fruit-bearing trees near the house or within your fence because it will bring you some sort of misfortune: sour relationships, unfavorable business, etc. I was a little surprised by the comment but I politely explained that it was not the case with the people I know.

After that conversation, I had ample time to think about said neighbor's comment while I was piling the small rocks around the garden. And I remembered that my grandparents planted and sustained not one but two kinds of sour fruit-bearing trees in their backyard and both trees gained them more friends and provided them with opportunity to show forth their generosity. For example, the balimbing trees may be eaten raw (and children from school or from church would love to take some on their way home) and is also a great ingredient for soup. The biasong fruit (which belong to the lemon family) may also be eaten but it is loved for its sweet fragrance and its medicinal value for children and for pregnant women.

I just don't know where the superstitious beliefs about these plants came from. But the experiences of my grandparents show that these beliefs are without basis and should not affect the way we act and think about things. Genesis, the first book of the Bible which details the account of creation tells us that everything that God made was "very good" (Genesis 1:31). Jeremiah (23:24) also tells us that God fills heaven and earth. Therefore, there is no room for anything that is unlike good such as these superstitious beliefs.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains why Christians should free themselves from any form of superstition in the following:

"Superstition is the deviation of religious feeling and of the practices this feeling imposes. It can even affect the worship we offer the true God, e.g., when one attributes an importance in some way magical to certain practices otherwise lawful or necessary..." (Paragraph 2111)

"Superstition is a departure from the worship that we give to the true God." (Paragraph 2138)

In the Philippine experience, although many such beliefs still occupy the thought of many Filipinos, it is nice to see that more and more people are recognizing the importance of living (not just reading) the Gospel. I love the way this experience is described in page 170 of the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. It says, "[t]he age seems ready to approach this subject, to ponder somewhat the supremacy of Spirit, and at least to touch the hem of Truth's garment." And, yes, we are all part of this unfolding - by living what we truly believe, by living the Gospel that we hear each Sunday in church and/or read in the comfort of our homes during the week. This is our way of taking part in the "great commission." I guess it's not very difficult to do and I know you'ld love to do it too.

Watching (and making) the news from a different perspective

Several months ago, I decided to stop watching the TV news. Not only was the news discouraging (or so they seem to me), I also would like to protect my 3 year old son from the undesirable scenes which oftentimes features unedited shots of bloodshed, nudity and many other scandals. I also decided to stop listening to the radio news. Neither did I read the daily which our office is subscribing. So every six o'clock in the evening, instead of the families faces of Julius Babao, Ted Failon or Karen Davila of ABS-CBN's TV Patrol World, my son would feast on the education programs of Barney, Sesame Street or Disney's Magic English.

Recently, however, The Alternative Law Groups, Inc., a coalition of eighteen (18) legal resource non-government organizations to which our office belongs, started a campaign against Charter-Change which the present Philippine Administrations is enthusiastically promoting. Since our office is the cluster head in the region, the campaign would requires us to be in the forefront of the campaign which often . This development made me to re-think my decision of several months ago. What would the people think of our statement or stand when we appear on TV or radio shows or when we are quoted by newspapers? Most certainly, I would not want them to feel the discouragement that I felt about the media. I also would not like the group or its players appear as people players. So how are we going to do this campaign?

As I was preparing for the launching of the campaign and our guesting in a popular morning TV show, I noticed the copies of The Christian Science Monitor that a Christian Science Practitioner sent me. On the front page of each issue is printed the following statement: "To injure no man, but to bless all mankind." This was how Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the newspaper, envisioned it to be. It has been 98 years since the first issue of the Monitor was published. Since then, it has received received many awards and recognition because of its objective and honest presentation of the news without much tabloid-like sensationalism. And for 98 years, Christian Scientists from all over the world used the paper to jump start their prayer.

These insights helped me a lot. If the ALG has a good intention in opposing the changes in the constitution, why should I be afraid in being part of this campaign? I know that ALG's position paper came out after considering all issues well. Each statement, therefore, has been carefully crafted. Why should I be afraid to let the public know about it? For as long as our presentations are objective and without much hullabaloos, I know the public will never be offended.

Yesterday morning, Erick Auza (an officemate) and I appeared in Maayong Buntag Kapamilya, a morning show of ABS-CBN's regional channel in Cebu. We presented ALG's stand and engaged in a lively discussion with host Angela Calina. Three of the program's viewers called up and gave their positive comments. This morning, the press conference and launching of the campaign was also successful.

Indeed, why fear when we know our intention is not to injure anyone but to bless everyone? And as regards the news in TV or other media, let's watch them with pastoral eyes, ready to pray about disturbing situations and always aligning our thoughts that mind "which was also in Christ in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5) So the media is not at all that bad. Inter Mirifica, a Second Vatican Council document, beautifully describes the role of the media this way: "...these media, if properly utilized, can be of great service to mankind, since they greatly contribute to men's entertainment and instruction as well as to the spread and support of the Kingdom of God."

Not barred by the bar exam

(Previously titled, "How 'not' to pass the bar exam...and still be happy")

About this time five years ago, I was reviewing for my first bar exam in UP Law Center. I was living with four of my classmates in a beautiful house in Tandang Sora - an ideal house for any bar reviewee. It was silent and cozy and was owned by one of these classmates whose family is among the richest in our province. And since we only had four weeks left before the bar exam, we did everything we could do to read all the materials we had: numerous books, voluminous handouts from UP and from other review centers. Of course, reading all these materials in such a limited time is next to impossible. But we had that determination.

One of my classmates and I frequented the Holy Mass at Our Lady of Consolation Parish in a neighboring subdivision to pray for wisdom and guidance. Indeed, those times spent in church consoled me. My father died two months ago and I am very thankful that I was given the strength to continue with the review. Seven months after, however, I learned that I did not pass the exam. But I did not lose hope knowing that there is still a second chance, a third chance, and so on.

The next year, I opted to have self-review but I felt more pressure because I already had a plan of marrying the girld I love (which actually took place in January 4, 2003). I also knew that my mother had been praying a lot (she really would like to see her two sons succeed in their chosen fields). But again, I failed. Then I took my third (and I think my last exam) last year with even more pressure knowing that I am at the brink of unemployment. But again, I failed.

It is really hard to understand many things in life. Had I not gathered enough strength from the Daily Mass Readings and from the Weekly Bible Lessons found in the Christian Science Quarterly, I should have gone mad. Indeed, there are many many things in life that are hard to understand. As I reflect on these events, several statements come to mind:

a.) That there are things that will never be given to us no matter how hard we try or how hard we ask for it in prayer. But it's not because God is not listening to our prayers but because he knows what is best for us. And when we he knows that what we're asking for will not do us any good, he will give something else (something better) in return. And, yes, he will deal wonderfully with my mother too!

b.) That God has given us a future and we should get excited about it. I heard this statement in 702 DZAS back when I was in high school. Indeed, why should we worry when God (who is not bound by time) is already in the future. I know he will supply all our needs and is preparing something grand. This is something we should be excited about - we should not be bound by past mistakes or failures.

c.) That we need to be thankful in whatever circumstance. This is captured by Job's statement in Job 1:21, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord!"

Now, in the company of my loving wife and my cute three year-old son (who is now going to a day care center in our barangay), I know there is something more to life than passing the bar exam. Something beautiful is about to unfold.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you'll visit again soon. Have a nice day.