Where Is My Family?

Have you ever experienced feeling so alone even in the company of some people? Have you wanted to express what is in your mind but no one cares to listen or have no time to talk to you?  Are you seeking for answers on all the questions hovering around your mind but no one wants to explain or discuss things with you?

We are four within a modest family who used to be happy and enjoy life by just having each other.  We share each other’s joys, problems and achievements.  Though we are not financially abundant but we seem to have more as we felt strong, able and capable with the awareness that we love, respect and care for each other as a team.  Why this feeling then?  Honestly, I am personally seeking out for answers and explanations on the why and when did this situation started and, where this is leading to. 

My eldest son had to leave us almost a couple of years ago to start his own family.  We were all supportive of his decision as we know that he has all the right to have one and that this will make him very happy.  His marriage life had a blissful set off but as an inevitable part of life, months later they were faced with a  great trial which did not only affect their lives as a couple but our family too.  It was my daughter’s intervention which started to put back things in their married life in the right perspective again.

But I felt that somehow this had affected our lives too.  My daughter appears to be drifting away from us as she has kept most to herself and stayed most of the time inside her room when at home that our communications had likewise lessened.  Her leisure hours are spent with friends and her boyfriend and had very limited time allocated at home.  My youngest son is more involved with his friends and home is only for mealtime, computer activities and sleeping. That is, our bonding as a family is fading away.

Oftentimes, I just muse over the days gone where we as a family used to tease each other, go to malls to shop needed things, watch a movie, eat out on particular occasions, go to church to hear mass, and pray  at home together.   I really miss those days, but it’s impossible to bring back the hands of time.  Everything is changing and everyone is growing up and with these are the changes in priorities and outlook in life.

This may sound selfish and foolish but as a mother, how I wish at times that my children are still kids to be able to  see in their faces again  the glow of eagerness to be with me wherever I go,  the happiness of seeing me every time  I  arrive home from the office every afternoon and, experience the feeling of contentment whenever I hug them close to me.

When Is Suffering A Sacrifice

Sufferings and sacrifice sound synonymous as both generally evoke a feeling of unhappiness and misery brought about by mental, emotional or physical pains.  How to distinguish one over the other is based on how one assesses the situation at hand.

One is suffering when he is absorbing and taking in physical, emotional and mental pains brought about by life's trials.  The trouble caused by pain or loss is sometimes too much to bear for someone that this would affect his disposition in life.  At times one would look for anybody or something to pass the blame for these ordeals and tribulations that he is going through. Too much pain and anguish may lead to loss of faith in the goodness and existence of the Almighty and thus find this as a valid excuse to reject the existence of God.  They would question God’s mercy, benevolence and love.    Others assume that suffering is evil influenced and that the afflicted person is guilty of unsavory deeds hence his punishment, a belief which is basically unfounded.

Sacrifice on the other hand is basically offering or giving out something for a greater value.  This one is selfless in nature.  Those who have great faith in God treat this as a way of facing life’s trials and offering this spiritually in union with the suffering that Jesus had for us.  That is, one would look at this as a means to share the cross of Christ and a way of peace offerings to the Lord for all the transgressions that he is guilty of. 

God created us but He gave us the option on how to run our life.   Trials are also tests of faith that will help us become stronger and wiser in playing our roles in life.  A reflection of our actions and reactions that may have brought these circumstances into our lives will give as an insight on how to do it better next time.  Afflictions are usually not accidents but oftentimes upshots of how we handle our lives.  If we try to analyze situations we may discover our inadequacies and thus inspire us to implement measures and adjust our attitude and beliefs towards improving the situation.   God give us faculty and skills to equip us in facing adversity and, intellect to reconsider and learn from the experience.   

For a believer, faith in God is the ultimate strength and means in combating the difficulties of life.  Knowing, loving and trusting Him make a very great difference on how to accept things, see through our adversities, be grateful  for every blessing  and, enjoy our  existence. 

Political Campaigns and Promises, Promises, Promises

Every time I switch on the television show or simply decide to listen to the radio, political ads are everywhere flooding the gaps in between regular programming.   Looking at it on a positive side as a voter, one ought to appreciate these advertisements for these will serve as tools to let the voters know the personalities of these candidates who are vying for public offices.  Through these ads we will know their political and intellectual backgrounds, their achievements and, political platforms that will help us decide if they are fit for the positions they are applying for. 

But…………… the ads that I kept seeing on television seems to be only replicas of past campaign patterns with just a revision of faces and backgrounds but the messages and the core are reproductions of previous years political propagandas which when scrutinized deeper boils down to PROMISES, PROMISES AND MORE PROMISES to entice voters’ support.  And these advertisements are funded through courtesy of friends and supporters of the candidates as claimed.   As ordinary citizens we could just HOPE that it really is as alleged but, doubt if so too goes our FAITH in its 100% truthfulness.

If political advertisements are in conformity with the rule of truth in advertising these would serve as valuable guides in making us choose the right candidate but, observing the patterns and comparing these against their actual performances one cannot help but doubt if “truth in advertising” is really exercised in political ads.  I am appalled by the claims of some seasoned politicians who are pompously brandishing their programs and performances set to make the citizens believe that they have done great to the country but their constituents are still wallowing in poverty while his family/clan is accumulating enormous properties and wealth.  These political dynasties are everywhere as power and control over the government political machineries are working towards their advantage.

Political advertisements are meant to enhance the image of the candidate to the voting public.  Hence, as voters it would be wiser if we just don’t digest what is being feed to us by media but delve further and know the personality behind the image projected on television screens and media prints.  Use whatever source is at hand and internet is a great tool in searching for the pros and cons as basis in choosing every candidate aspiring for public office.  Use technology to establish the veracity of what we see, hear and read and thus help us conclude if these are not just promises meant to be broken once their desire had been attained or are really coming from a heart who really desires to serve.

Why Pray for our Priests

Priests are men who choose to sacrifice some of the comforts and pleasures of life to serve God and his church.  As such he should strive to be worthy of this calling in everything he does and anywhere he goes.  Ordinary church members assume them to project an image of Jesus.  They expect an image of perfect righteousness and an impeccable personality that would not give in to temptations, and much less, commit sin.  We have forgotten that priests are also human beings of flesh and blood which have also faults, weaknesses and shortcoming and thus, are also fallible to commit sin.  They are just ordinary persons whose physical, mental and sometimes spiritual capacities are subject to limitations and are no different from normal people who also need prayers to be strong.

We should pray for our priests:

•  Who are now dwindling in numbers and the proportion against the members of the flocks that they are suppose to herd  need  superpower capabilities for them to be able to fully attend to.
•  Who are pious that they may maintain that zest and devotion to their vocation and thus vigorously guide and inspire their parishioners. 
• Who are already on their advanced age and those who are ailing or sickly that they will be blessed with physical, emotional and spiritual competencies for despite their physical in-capacities they still hold on to whatever strengths they have to be of service to their parish.
• Who are erring for they need the support and not condemnation of the church community to be able to pull through.   They are the ones who need our prayers most to be strong in fighting and overcoming temptations and weaknesses.

Our priests are the pillars of our faith and their performance and behavior directly affect and influence the community they are in charge of.   Negative reports involving our priest had put the church in disgrace but sacrifices of some particularly those assigned in very remote areas where government services are difficult to access or not available are seldom known or heard.  These negative cases however, are out-shined by sacrifices and noble deeds of devout priests who abandoned personal comforts, family concerns and some to the extent of sacrificing their lives in the service of God and rallying in defense of His church and people.  Between the above performances however, what mark most and is retained on the minds of the people particularly the ones who find satisfaction on attacking the Catholic faith are the transgression of a few.

Above considerations are affecting the leadership of our faith and usually discourage one’s aspiration as well as the support of his families and friends into becoming a priest.  As laymen,  one effective involvement we could extend in support of our church is offering prayers for our priest for in these trying times our church and its leaders really need it.