The Heart of the Blog

Early this morning, I received a text from my sister-in-law, Beth. She thanked me for my reflection in Didache today about this blog. Her words: “…very inspiring. I should also make a journal to appreciate (blessings) and have the attitude of gratitude.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – God’s timing is perfect. Last night, I belatedly read an email asking me about the colors the Music Ministry members were supposed to wear last Sunday. The sender said in jest I was too busy writing my blog I forgot to send this out. “Color coding” is one in a myriad of tasks I do for the South Feast. I do this early in the week. Last week it was not done because my laptop was included in Typhoon Basyang’s death toll.

After re-reading my Didache reflection during my prayer time, I realized something. These 3 things – the text, the email, my laptop’s demise – were all timed to remind me that lately I had not been writing about the things I set this blog up for.

So, I return to the heart of the blog. As I write my B.A.G. of Miracles (write – as in pen on paper. Later, I will harass my son to let me use his computer) the words of the song Heart of Worship run through my mind. “I’m coming back to the heart of worship…” I’m coming back to praise God for His many miracles.

LAST WEEK’S SCENARIO:

1. We had two batches of balikbayan relatives to entertain in our maid-less home.
2. It was my younger son’s birthday.
3. Typhoon Basyang dropped in on a clueless Metro Manila. (May bagyo pala!)

My Bs:

1. The blessing of assistance. From my sons who cleaned the lawn and hauled gallons of water. From my cousin, Belle, who cooked kare-kare for the party (a dish I never cooked despite my late husband’s threat not to marry me until I learned how). From my parents who are still actively doing chores at 80. From outside helpers who cleared the rubbish from the storm.
2. The blessing of protection. Our roof hung on for dear life amidst Basyang’s howling winds.
3. The blessing of darkness and light – yes, the power outage was a blessing. No computers to zombify us, no TV to steal our time. My sons and I spent some quiet time sitting on my bed just chatting. And then there was light, in less than 24 hours at that. While most of the metropolis still groped around in darkness, we were pounding madly on our keyboards to beat deadlines. My son for his long delayed thesis and me for the South Feast bulletin.

My As:

1. Fed the multitude plus cooked a special birthday dinner without burning/ breaking/bungling anything
2. My first try with my tita’s caldereta sans tomato sauce recipe was successful. (I think the secret was in the pray-over as it simmered on the stove.)

My Gs:

1. Took time off from cleaning, cooking, serving to watch “Inception” with my two boys on the younger one’s birthday.
2. Made relatives from both sides of my family happy.

There you have it. A full B.A.G. of Miracles.

The Healer Within

HEALING THE BODY

I did a Lady Gaga recently. Nope, not another wacky song and dance number with my costume-happy LOJ community. I tripped and fell and scraped my knee at the mall. I regained my poise only when l saw on TV that I had celebrity company. Lady Gaga tottered on extremely high heels and took a tumble at Heathrow airport in full view of the media. But while only her dignity was hurt, I got a one peso-sized wound on my knee that became extremely painful.

Sometimes, I can’t help but think that the Lord times these things so I can have something to write about. The Sunday right after my less-than-graceful fall was the start of Awaken the Healer in You series at the South Feast. Bro Arun gave the big message for Talk 1, Healer: “God has given you the power to heal yourself.” He also said that the best pharmacy in the world is our body. We have antibodies that can fight off any bacteria and any virus if we have a strong immune system.
Bro Arun Gogna
Observing how my body fought off a possible infection until my wound got devalued to a 10 centavo-sized scab brought home that point. The body has a healer within. But that was merely skin deep. What about more serious ailments? Those too can be healed if we remove spiritual, emotional and chemical toxins within us.

Bro Arun cited the example of Bro Cris Picardal, our Disaster Response Ministry Head. When Bro Cris was diagnosed with a serious ailment, he had an office mate who also had the same illness at about the same time. The other guy went under the knife and got the regular treatment. He passed away after a year. Bro Cris opted for a treatment that hinged on strengthening his immune system. He also continued to faithfully serve in our community. Today, four years after his diagnosis, he exhibits that a strong immune system plus a healthy soul equals a healthy body.

Cris Picardal with daughters Krisanne & Maan following Bro Arun's exhortation to show love to family in Talk 3: Relationships of Awaken the Healer in You series.

HEALING THE NATION

Last Sunday, in Emotions, Talk 2 of the series, the central theme was: “What you feel, you can heal.” Diseases are messages from the soul. We kill the message when we just take pills for the symptoms. We should instead focus on the cause which most of the time can trace its roots to negative emotions. We should not pretend that nothing is happening inside us. It is not good to escape negative emotions because if ignored, they turn into addictions. To avoid emotions killing you, pour your heart out to the Lord. Let it all out. He can take it. He’s a big God, bigger than all our problems combined.

I thought about this as I listened to the forceful, no-nonsense inaugural address of our new president yesterday. P-Noy said, “To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: There can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito.”

So true. Corrupt public officials who have not been brought to justice have become addicted to money and power. The president’s call for public servants to fight corruption within the bureaucracy and for everyone to walk the straight and narrow (“Tayo na sa tuwid na landas.”) is a call to strengthen our country’s immune system. As citizens we cannot close our eyes to the illness in our society. We have to be the healer within.

*Thanks to IC de Guzman for the South Feast photos