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?

'God is love' in pineapple business

Pineapple is a bitingly sweet and sour, watery tropical fruit that balances the warmth Filipinos experienced within a relatively all year-round hot-weathered Philippines. Available throughout the year, the demand for the many-eyed yellow fibrous fruit is limitless.

One couple ventures into peddling fresh pineapples in two identical wooden carts with inscriptions "God Is Love" in separate routes.

Ed, 51, a widower with four children, and wife-to-be Norie, 48, a single mother of three, are soon to get married.

When both of them tie the knot early next year, God Is Love indeed, in the business they choose to provide for their big family!

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.

Snake: Fear factor

Snake gourd

My first experience to touch a live python was two years ago.

It was a four-month-old pet python, the size of a diameter of a finger, owned by a neighbor of a close relative.

I ran the tip of my fingers through the back and belly of the snake. It was unbelievably soft and smooth!

I was snake-phobic before (I still am!) as almost everybody else is; but it was a long-time personal challenge to be able to touch it.

Many opportunities passed and two years ago was another chance.

"Now or never," I told myself.

Finally, I did it!

Speaking of snake, I have a story to tell.

One school day in my senior high, I and my classmate were stationed to guard the back of City High from intruders. It was part of our civilian army training course.

We were guarding the wire fence whole day when we spotted a big-headed, slender-bodied, green baby snake crawling in front of us!

I can't remember if I participated in but the snake was stoned to death!

Fear crawled through our spines when we came to a realization: if there's a baby snake in this place, a mother snake is just around the corner!

It was creepy and more when we thought of eyes of a huge snake looking at us stealthily somewhere on that grassy field beyond the fence!

We were not guarding the fence from illegal entrants anymore -- but from a dark-green anaconda to suddenly appear.

We knew already what to do -- RUNNN!!!

Fear only stopped when school that day was over.

Fallen angel?

Fallen angel? Due to a fall from the sky and impact upon ground, parts of the body of an angel are shattered: head, leg and left wing severed – yet, alive via other leg implanted upon earth. Once a being of light, now a black, headless, right-winged entity standing beside the street!