Hey, Mess!

Our trash can tell us that we just enjoyed a cup of ice cream with friends.

A mess can tell us that we have been too busy doing what we’re doing to notice that things are not in order even when it's staring us in the eye.

A mess can tell us that, perhaps, it is time to pause, clean up and begin again and keep things in order. 

There is always hope for something better. 

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Never Hopeless

When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God.

-Reverend Charles Allen

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Hope

Hope itself is like a star - not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.

-Charles Spurgeon

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"There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot, from that situation, create something that is surpassingly good. 

He did it at the creation.

He did it at the cross.

He is doing it today."

-Bishop Moule

Discernment

I’ve never given much thought about my calling. I thought it was just going to come on its own. It thought God would explicitly tell me at the right time. But no. It needs discernment.

Discernment is choosing between two good things. It involves God unlike ordinary day-to-day decision-making. It takes time as well. So how do you go about with discernment? According to Father Frank Savadera, here’s how:

•  Immerse or engage yourself totally to whatever it is that you do. I used to think going on retreats and isolating one’s self would be the most favorable atmosphere to come up with big decisions like finding out what one is called to do and to be. But no. It requires us to go out into the world and discover ourselves in it rather than lock ourselves out of it. It’s just logical. Why would we want to lock ourselves out of the world to find out what we are called to do and to be while we’re in it?
• Recognize God in your own world. Whether it is the world of an Accountant, a Nurse, a Doctor, an Engineer, an Architect, a Teacher, etc., you ought to find God there. Feel God’s presence in your own context. Father Frank shared to us a story about a prostituted woman who found herself so unworthy so he told her to find God in her own context. A couple of days later, the woman returned saying she felt God coming from her back kissing her so intimately on the neck. I was surprised at how she described God’s presence. Even Father Frank was surprised. But how can we judge her? It was her context of feeling God’s love.
• Realize that the world is pulling you. The world is pulling us towards sinfulness. It comes in the most subtle and sugar-coated way. That’s why we need to continually be vigilant and prayerful.
• Sinner yet called. God is still calling us in spite of our sinfulness.
• Be grateful and be generous.

So, just when I’ve decided to start thinking about discernment last night, I was reminded again today in our law class. Our professor said that a minor aged 15-18 years would not be criminally liable if there is discernment. Well, looks like I would have to start discerning before I reach the point when I could be held captive by the regret of not living in the world the way God wants me to.  

YFCs and SFCs with Father Frank  after the talk on Discernment

Allergy

I’ve been thinking how I am allergic to pressure.

Earlier, on my way to the venue of the weekly gathering of UP YFC Campus-Based, I was feeling pressured because it’s Gerald’s first time to lead a worship and I’m not sure whether or not he’s been oriented; because Hya and Ariane have not confirmed about the activity yet; because the activity permit is with me and YFCs from other campuses might not be able to enter. Thoughts like that. Then, I started wondering why I can’t be late for a few minutes when I still wanted to finish the movie I was watching; why I was feeling tired; why I had to be the Ate now next to Ate Francess. Pressure defined. Then, Gerald came up with the answer: it was because being there and being that is what makes me happy.

Notice how the most delectable foods are the most common causes of allergy? To name a few, there’s chicken, prawn and peanuts. It’s the same thing with the pressure I feel. Even though I know better to avoid what I am allergic to, I still go for it because there is something in it that is just so appealing.

I have no right to complain at all.  In YFC, I found really good friends who tell the corniest jokes. I’ve been given the chance to be a younger and an older sister. I’ve become aware of God’s great love. I’ve learned to trust God more and more and see the beautiful side of things. I’m happy to be where I am every Tuesday after my classes. These are the reasons why I keep on going.

"behind the pressure is the happiness to be able to live through it"

You see, behind the pressure is the happiness to be able to live through it. As Bo Sanchez puts it, we need tension to be happy. The pressure we feel every now and then may just be the essential factor in molding us to become wonderful individuals.

If you've seen the movie The House Bunny, Shelley told the story of how she once had a skin disease or a skin allergy (something like that). She said, it made her feel really ugly but it turns out that after she recovered from it, her skin started to glow and made her into the beautiful maiden she’s become. So let’s glow.

DISCLAIMER:  This is just the product of the creative mind of the writer. Don’t take it literally. Allergy can be deadly.