Rainbow-winged

"What you are is God's gift to you..."
Before one enters a portal new to him, he finds himself at a loss, afraid, and apprehensive as to what is in store for him beyond that door. 
One thing is certain, however. By the time he decides to tread the path leading to that portal, what he has just made is the greatest decision he ever thought of -- the acceptance of self... the first step in achieving great goals.
Sure enough, if he did not take that first step, accepting himself as he really is, he would be an ugly green caterpillar, crawling on the branches of endless uncertainties.
But the caterpillar soon learns the golden message that the stepping stone to achieve great things lies in the threshold of accepting its real self.
That threshold alone spells nothing but courage.
And that same courage is put to real test -- the caterpillar has to lock itself behind the bars of cocoon for a long time... a dark, warm, painful, lonely battle to reach the unreachable.
We, humans, share the same experience... the same struggle. Now, they are brave people in our midst who accept themselves as they are.
And are determined enough to move on from there.
For a long while, the cocooned caterpillar has to end what it has started. And taste the ripe fruits of its toils.
Yes, if there is a beginning, there is an end. But for those who understand its real meaning, the struggle has not died yet.
It only opens a new chapter in life.
As it came out slowly from the cocoon's door, the different creature was greeted with the stillness of the darkness -- the same darkness when it entered that same world.
But the caterpillar -- now, a rainbow-winged butterfly! -- knows, for sure, that the night is different from the night it was once before.
A new horizon is taking shape in the distance.
One wondered, before, what lies beyond that horizon. But the butterfly is certain that ahead of those far-fetched mountains is a new day that is about to unfold before the eyes of the world.
There is a new hope, new life that promises a new beginning.
Now, the butterfly has to flap its wings and see and do new role, new responsibilities that await him.
For us, humans, whose struggle in life is patterned after the cocooned caterpillar's, what we have achieved of late is only a beginning of another higher level of achievement.
Ours is a lifetime quest.
As the sunflowers await the butterflies, the world awaits these promising men and women.
This is where the truth from the saying comes back to heart.
"... what you become is your gift to God!"

Mother Nature: God or saint?

How do humans treat Mother Nature: God or saint? Nature was divinely created first before humans were created. Man has a need and Nature will replenish this need, thus Nature was first created. God first created the provision so that when mankind exists, the needs of mankind are provided ahead of time. The job of Nature, then, is to serve humankind; and Nature is a good servant. Since Nature is a good servant, Nature deserves to be treated well by its human managers. Otherwise, God, the Creator, will vindicate for Nature since Nature is created as a good servant. Do masters serve servants? Servants serve masters! If mankind were to worship Nature, mankind violates the natural purpose and arrangement of the Divine Creation; and if mankind desecrates Nature, it likewise lowers their dignity as human beings. See, the floods, the effect of natural disrespect and humans dying as a result? Nature is a good servant like a mother that cares; it is also like a saint whose nature, ideals and wisdom benefit humankind. Natural disrespect lowers the dignity of humans so does if humans were to make Nature a God.

Leveled mountain

The greatness of a mountain stood in a big city by the sea.
Between the mountain and the seas, a man saw himself standing.
A blink of an eye and the mountain flattened. A bulldozer and a driver leveled it down.
No more mountain in his eyes, he could see the other side.
He turned his face to the seas and it became as crystal.
Candy wrappers of five or less and old wood of sun-dried fragments were afloat on only little surface.
And in the deepness of the seas, he saw the soul of a mother swimming like a dolphin in the speed of a bullet - jubilant - frolicking - spirited - but joy was unwritten on her face.
A mountain of struggle no more, a sea of almost perfect pureness, and a time of great rejoicing and peace.
But the soul aches for life beyond earth.

Dessert of the soul

Abandonment is a real desert, it pains you both interiorly and exteriorly: you are left all alone by those whom you think love you unconditionally, even Love Itself, God. A true test of faith! But when we find ourselves in such a situation, run immediately to your oasis: TRUST IN THE LORD! For, He knows what He is doing and He knows what He is about. And when we are through in this experience, we come to realize it is not a desert after all, but a dessert of the soul.

Joy amidst desert

Green is the color of a 'new beginning;' and pink, of gladness while lotus symbolizes spirituality. Spiritual joy or gift is born out of sufferings, trials or desert experiences. If you were experiencing such, be of good courage, rejoice, for gifts of the Holy Spirit are being processed within you. May you be divinely comforted in your spiritual desert at the moment and rest in this oasis of realization.

'Fish-tival': Abundance of the sea

'Fish-tival' is festival of fish. 'Fish day,' similarly, is 'feast day' of the abundance of the fish. Everyone has enough from the abundance of the sea. Today is 12th day of December, the 12th month of the year! And '12' is the number of abundance, a 'superabundant number,' in fact. Any significance to the coming year, 2012? A year of superabundance?

Standing on a way out

When problems press on you from all sides, from within and from without, lift up your eyes to Heaven; and, as you do, a way out is given, even without you noticing it as you are already standing on it. You have gone this far in your life and through many similar circumstances. Trust, it will evaporate like a mist -- resolved yet unnoticed!

Heart on the pavement

We know not what love is -- until Love Itself touches us.

When we realize we are loved, we begin the journey to share this Love that we, Its monstrance, are filled of.

But the road is not easy, the world is taught to hate what is lovely;

And question the motive behind those who try to love unconditionally.

We go on loving despite mockery and opposition.

It is full of thorns -- but thorns are part of loving.

Yet the fruits of love we begin to pick up, to love we never give up.

And the world will know the Love within us is but true.

Fish right

A bait, a hook and a nylon are simple fishing tools that a young man used for a catch to meet the day's need. Is this the right way of living -- living one day at a time? Living for the future is living present day in a haste which deprives us of happiness. To desire more in life is a temptation to resort to illegal practices that not only hurt us but the ecosystem as well.

Stubborn oysters

 

Why do you cling to a concrete seawall like you have found your place forever? 

Why can’t you be wandering — or be one with the sea instead? 

The sea is yet beginning to grow; and small splashes of low tides intermittently kiss you on a lower dyke. 

I can see you in your shell spitting water after every splash of sea wave you are stroked with. 

You are alive. 

What if the sea is even nowhere in sight? Can you survive the scorching heat of the sun? 

You seem to be dead when dry and resurrected when hit by the waves. 

Is that your permanent abode, oysters? You’re not, little stubborn creations. 

Your flesh will soon be rooted up and eaten. Is that what you are called for? 

Oysters cannot hear me, for the great waters have come.

Solitude

A lone, pensive bird perching on a street wire, a note of music to a soul in solitude.

Unconditional love

If you keep on 

hurting 

the heart 

that loves you, 

it will still 

love you 

but will love you 

from afar; 

and when you do 

realize 

you are at fault 

and come near, 

it will love you 

again 

the way it loved you 

before.

All is well

Problem is symbolized by water and is often regarded as negative but the photograph shows it positively. The boy, who accidentally tossed the ball into the waters, was able to get it back by the help of the waves that, slowly, shove the ball towards where the boy is situated -- the seawall. Similarly, any problem we encounter is for our own benefit -- it shapes our character while wisdom is gained.

Upgrade

Self-improvement is necessary. Man, in fact, should dream higher dreams; but to achieve such loftiness is far away for those who keep on resenting their present selves. Love yourself. Accept it and do what you are capable of doing. And use what you have in hand to propel you to upgrading yourself. Can you perform well when you do nothing but compare yourself with others?

Nothing is missing

Something was missing; or was it someone she missed? Someone came, she loved, thinking it could fill her emptiness. But no! She sinned because it was a sin to love him. And yet, she stayed. 

Something was still missing inside; or was it someone she wanted? Life went on; but it was a life of sufferings. A harvest of seeds sown in the past. Unable to walk, unable to eat, unable to speak; but able to shed tears.  

Something was still missing within; or was it Someone she needed? She remembered the Lord because the Lord let her remember Him. She repented; accepted Christ Jesus into her heart; served Him in silence; and b.r.e.a.t.h.e.d. her last. 

Nothing is missing now, for the Lord fills the longing of the soul.

And the long wait is over

You had waited long enough and – now – see. 

Had you not stretched your waiting, you would not have seen the one you are seeing today. 

One thing that must keep you from waiting on is fear of night. 

Just be; but do wait, for waiting does pay and repay the ‘wait-er.’ 

It may only be delayed but it will surely come – even before the night comes.

Ode to Tonette

Beautiful, indeed, it is that we discover each other in this journey called life. And the discovery that has taken place between us is divinely ordained. It is a connection between our two souls. It is the Spirit that is alive between us -- the Spirit of God -- that connects us to each other. We are both inspired with each other because we are of the same spirit. We will still be friends even in the beyond.

Man is an island

I am a man and I am an island -- but an island which builds bridges to reach out to other islands, isles and islets in the ocean of the world. I am connected, I re-connect. Interconnections take place. I am loved -- thus, I love. I am a man and an island interconnected to other islands of the globe becoming as one big whole continent.

Know fear!

Why are you afraid of fear when fear itself is afraid of you and everything under and above the sun: it is powerless; only, we give it power when we let ourselves be afraid. Then, fear itself magnifies. We may be afraid at times: or, most times, if we are honest; be afraid – yes! – but let fear see it not.