Deconstructed fairytales and literature launched this year
magnify this truth — hurt people tend to hurt people. Elphaba
in the Wizard of Oz was unloved and unpopular. Maleficent had
been betrayed. Elsa had lost trust in the world. As a defense
mechanism, these fictional villains had hardened with
unforgiveness, had isolated themselves in fear, or had sought
violent revenge.
By no means is this a way to condone or justify
revenge or spite and wrongdoing, but this recurring theme at
best encourages empathy. It brings to mind this reality: the
world today is terribly hurt and betrayed and it needs a lot of
healing.
But I am optimistic that the world is evolving, too, and
the collective mentality is recognizing the good more and
more. Little by little, our generation is turning to healthy ways,
consciously going eco-friendly, becoming more charitable, and
we have Pope Francis! Little by little, too, we will be entering a
time that conquers hate only with love, defeats violence with
genuine kindness, heals revenge with unlimited forgiveness.
Hurt people tend to hurt people, but, with God’s grace, it will
end in our generation. It will end because you and I choose to
start loving like Jesus today.
Monthly Archives: November 2014
Why are we not trending?
If we talk about material, Christianity has a wealth of great
films, books, and inspired entertainment. I would be very
happy to curate the God-centered work of Christian artists.
It will be a great body of work that we’d realize, across ages,
across art forms, we can never really run out of
God-centered masterpieces. It’s not a question of what’s
available, it is a question of patronage.
For example, why is
an R ‘n B cover of a Himig Heswita song far from trending?
Why does “Heaven is For Real,” a movie that brings Jesus
to the mainstream, fail to fill up a cinema fast enough? It is
not as if they are a stranger to artistic requirements and
technique. And if the constraint is promotional budget and a
network ofconnections, as far as I can recall, with Youtube
sensations,and Internet celebrities, ang capital nila, camera,
guts and that one click that launches a million more.
One of the things I’ve thought about is that, maybe we
Catholics need to work on the consistency of our message.
Our artwork, films, books, songs may proclaim love and
mercy, the goodness of the Father, the humility of Jesus,
the tenderness of Mary, but our lifestyles may say otherwise.
To an atheist, an agnostic, to a lukewarm Catholic, or to
someone who has yet to be convinced, we may come off as
fake. Anybody wouldn’t want to broadcast that he is
patronizing a fake.
“Be Jesus” to others – this is our prayer. If, through a
neighbor’s kindness, one experienced something as
COMPLETE as Jesus, he will be bursting to broadcast
Jesus and any creative work that proclaims Him.
Serving at The FEAST
It was not my desire to serve at The Feast. I had just wanted to attend, get spiritually refreshed, listen to talks, join Caring Groups. I never dreamed of writing regularly, I never dreamed of joining a ministry. But when God makes you say “yes,” everything else takes a backseat. I cannot remember how He called me, or how I gave in. I just said yes one night at dinner, after everyone else said yes, months prior to The Feast launch. What I had been thinking that night was that if this service is for God, he will arrange everything favorably.
Well, that’s what I thought. But during the first months of working on the Feast Bulletin, I had been juggling this with my other project deadlines and occasional travels. I had been struggling, too, with writing positively, and in a manner that is God-centered. I was coming from the province of suicidal writers, bitter ruminations, and cold technical reports. What I had written were anything but sunny. The closest I could get to rosy prose was through sarcasm and satire. After my “yes,” it was anything but favorable. That is, until God pulled me gently to a corner: “What can you let go for me?”
Slowly, with His guidance, I began to sift through my projects, retain the most life-affirming, humanitarian ones , and as much as possible, keep my Thursdays free. Since this winnowing of my calendar, I have lost a huge percentage of my income, lessened my travels, and lost my “standing”.
I also thought that this service that I do was for God. But I realize that God does not benefit from my service. My service is but a limp spurt of water that doesn’t hit its aim. God sees it, but he doesn’t need any of it. Who benefits? I do. I have lost much of the world, but I have won greatly as I gained back my faith. That’s saying, I have gained back my identity, and my freedom, and I can never imagine losing these again.
And for every chair I align, for every form of service I give, I feel God giving me a hug— “Oh Kimee, palangga ta gid ka.” That is all I ever need.
Love Tank Full
How does one fill his Love Tank?
Go back to The Chair.
How does one appease his anger and free himself from neediness?
Go back to The Chair.
How does one learn to lovingly forgive?
Go back to The Chair.
How does one react properly when provoked?
Go back to The Chair.
How does one know that he or she is “the one,” whatever this means?
Go back to The Chair.
How does one make the right life decisions?
Go back to The Chair.
How does one know his future?
He won’t know much. Just go back to The Chair.
How does one live?
Begin at The Chair.
Going back to – and starting at – The Chair anchors one to genuine Christian living. We recall from the last talk series that The Chair is a metaphor for prayer time, when we just stay still and silent, allowing God to do the work in us. The Chair is indispensable to daily Christian living. It is where a Full Tank begins.
simplicity school 