What we believe is a world of peace
Where there is no hatred, greed and selfishness
And what we are dreamin’
For a world to be lived in
Is that we give peace a chance once again…
I was happy to see my friend Fr. Tata Cabanero several days ago when he dropped by our place. Fr. Tata, who was ordained two years ago, is at present the parish priest of Kabacan, Cotabato. Since the place has been in the news lately because of the ongoing clashes between the military and the MILF, I was eager to hear from him a first hand information on the situation in his parish.
The young priest confided that he had just finished recording a song on peace as his personal response to this ongoing conflict in Mindanao. Borne out of prayer and reflection, the beautiful song was written and set into music in just an hour one morning after he celebrated Mass. He told me of the encounter between the military and the MILF one evening and how the following morning while getting ready for Mass and reflecting on his homily, the words just kept pouring on his head. Fr. Tata gave me a copy of the lyrics of the song, which I am printing here in full:
In the beginning
When god created the world
He said “everything is good”
There is peace and harmony.
What a beautiful sight
For the people to live
And God provides.
As the years go by
People were not contented and satisfied
They want to own the world
Even the life of man
Now there’s culture of war
Hatred has come to men.
Chorus:
What we believe is a world of peace.
And what we are dreamin’
For a world to be lived in
Is that we give peace a chance
once again.
Now the call is going out
To bring back the image
Of the world once lost
To instill in the hearts of people
To care for life, peace and unity
And fear of the Lord.
Bridge:
Now the time has come
To turn our swords into plough-shares
And build bridges instead of walls
And let peace begin within yourself.
Repeat chorus 2x
Let us give peace a chance once again.
The last sentence of the song is almost a wishful prayer. “Let us give peace a chance once again.”
Just recently my e-mail yielded a message asking for support through signature campaign to end Taliban’s war against women (Taliban is the ruling group in Afghanistan). Since 1996, when the Taliban came to power the women there have lost their relative freedom. For a little mistake a woman commits (like going out without properly covering her face) an angry mob or a male relative can stone her to death. The situation of women there seems so hopeless that many of them resort to suicide.
Our prayer for peace has never been so vital as of now. So many parts of the world are at war for so many reasons. How can peace happen in a world seemingly divided by ethnic beliefs and lost causes, we may ask? But peace becomes possible for us to achieve only if we allow it to take root in our hearts. It is a fact that unless there is peace and harmony within us, it is impossible to build peace outside of us. Peace is the fruit of the Spirit dwelling in the core of our hearts. It is the same Spirit that inspires us to go out of ourselves to communicate peace to others through various ways.
Sunday, May 28, 2000
Sunday, May 14, 2000
To Mom on Mother’s Day
…And through the years, a mother
Has been all that’s sweet and good
For there’s one bit of God and love,
In all true motherhood…
Helen Steiner Rice
At 77, my mother still exudes some traces of the beauty she had when she was young. Her slender body makes it possible for her to look good in the clothes she wears. Since my mother lives abroad and I am in the convent, we see each other only every three years or so, whenever it is possible for her to come home for vacation. Several months ago we were together again after almost three years of not seeing each other. It was a happy reunion of sorts and we did a lot of catching up on many things.
One day while watching my mother busy doing something I realized with a tinge of sadness how she has grown older. Her hair has grown thinner and silvery white since the last time I saw her. With a lump in my throat I thought how much I will miss Mom’s presence when the time comes that she would be called from our midst to receive her reward. I just hope it will not be for many years to come.
Since May 14 is celebrated as Mother’s Day I thought of paying tribute to this special woman in my life. I have not written about her for years since I composed a short poem about a mother’s love many, many years ago.
No one can underestimate the capacity of a mother to endure suffering and trials. I lost my father when I was still young. The responsibility of raising seven kids fell on the frail shoulders of my mother. Working so hard to be able to send seven kids to school and trying to cope with seven different personalities were sure an effective antidote for Mom to overcome whatever loneliness she might have felt during those years. I remember how she would complain of me being so hardheaded whenever I failed to do my duty or heed her advice. Years later, she would sing a different tune. When I became a religious, she would say to her friends with a sense of pride, ‘that of all her children, I am the most obedient.’ It became a joking matter between us. I never failed to kid her about it whenever I have the opportunity, which of course she takes so graciously.
It was not an easy life for Mother. Looking back on those years I really marvel at her patience and endurance. But her perseverance has also paid off. She possesses wisdom borne of her experience, which she generously shares with us. And her tolerance and understanding is something I could only envy of.
Mom’s love and concern for us have not diminished through the years. Every now and then she will call me and ask how I am. She does also with my other siblings. Mom, still and will always be a mother in many ways. Her little acts of love warm the heart. We are assured that though we are miles apart from one another, each one of us is as close as can be in my mother’s heart and that she has always a prayer for each one of us. Thank you dear God, for mothers.
Has been all that’s sweet and good
For there’s one bit of God and love,
In all true motherhood…
Helen Steiner Rice
At 77, my mother still exudes some traces of the beauty she had when she was young. Her slender body makes it possible for her to look good in the clothes she wears. Since my mother lives abroad and I am in the convent, we see each other only every three years or so, whenever it is possible for her to come home for vacation. Several months ago we were together again after almost three years of not seeing each other. It was a happy reunion of sorts and we did a lot of catching up on many things.
One day while watching my mother busy doing something I realized with a tinge of sadness how she has grown older. Her hair has grown thinner and silvery white since the last time I saw her. With a lump in my throat I thought how much I will miss Mom’s presence when the time comes that she would be called from our midst to receive her reward. I just hope it will not be for many years to come.
Since May 14 is celebrated as Mother’s Day I thought of paying tribute to this special woman in my life. I have not written about her for years since I composed a short poem about a mother’s love many, many years ago.
No one can underestimate the capacity of a mother to endure suffering and trials. I lost my father when I was still young. The responsibility of raising seven kids fell on the frail shoulders of my mother. Working so hard to be able to send seven kids to school and trying to cope with seven different personalities were sure an effective antidote for Mom to overcome whatever loneliness she might have felt during those years. I remember how she would complain of me being so hardheaded whenever I failed to do my duty or heed her advice. Years later, she would sing a different tune. When I became a religious, she would say to her friends with a sense of pride, ‘that of all her children, I am the most obedient.’ It became a joking matter between us. I never failed to kid her about it whenever I have the opportunity, which of course she takes so graciously.
It was not an easy life for Mother. Looking back on those years I really marvel at her patience and endurance. But her perseverance has also paid off. She possesses wisdom borne of her experience, which she generously shares with us. And her tolerance and understanding is something I could only envy of.
Mom’s love and concern for us have not diminished through the years. Every now and then she will call me and ask how I am. She does also with my other siblings. Mom, still and will always be a mother in many ways. Her little acts of love warm the heart. We are assured that though we are miles apart from one another, each one of us is as close as can be in my mother’s heart and that she has always a prayer for each one of us. Thank you dear God, for mothers.
Sunday, March 26, 2000
A Lesson in Patience
Some of the many blessings modern technology brings into our earthly existence are that it makes things easy for us. We have only to push a button here and there and presto! We get the things we need at once. No hassle, no sweat. However, this kind of lifestyle created an “instant mentality” syndrome in some of us, the consequence of which is that it makes us impatience of results. We want things done at once. We regard it a waste of time to wait. We want to be always on the go.
I am one of those people who have got this kind of seemingly incurable illness. There are times when I feel the need to slow down and take things easily, to be quiet and to exercise a bit of patience (of which I somehow lack to a great degree) with myself as well as others. I might as well have a friend named Patience to nudge me every now and then, urging me to stay cool and take things easy especially on situations I would find my sense of perseverance evaporating into thin air.
I was driving out of the parking area one day when I realized I lost my car park card the moment I reached the exit gate. I looked and searched everywhere – under the car seat, inside my pocket, my wallet, but the card was nowhere to be found. I felt so embarrassed at the long queue of motorists that got stuck behind me but I could not do anything about it. Finally, I asked the security guard’s help to guide me as I back the car. I parked temporarily at one side and inspected the place where I earlier parked my car. There was no card there. I looked inside my bag of groceries, inspected my pocket (again), the driver’s seat. There was no card to be found. I was about to give up when I suddenly noticed something white sticking out under the front seat of the passenger’s side of the car. It was the card! How come I did not notice it at once? I felt so awful thinking of the time wasted. I could have been home already at this moment, I told myself. I made the round again towards the exit. This time the queue of cars going out was much longer. It took me almost thirty minutes before I finally got out. A simple lesson in patience? You bet it was. I went home philosophizing that I needed the jolt to shape me up. Thanks, my friend.
A friend once commented that modern technology also shapes our way of communicating with people. He observes that because we have been so used in getting and receiving things instantly, our level of tolerance and perseverance is very low. Since we are accustomed to instant communication and information, we have little patience with people who are slow. He further laments the fact that the personal touch in communicating has somewhat diminished because of the presence of electronic communication that does not require us to be present all the time while communicating with others. The Internet, telephone, text messaging, oftentimes acts as substitutes for our appearance. He concedes that these technologies are very important and necessary to facilitate communication and information but should not hinder us in establishing and deepening meaningful relationships.
Well, there is some truth in what my friend said, but I do not agree with him all the way. Maybe the “instant mentality” syndrome has affected our lifestyle but I believe the virtues of tolerance, patience and perseverance are still ingrained in our value system. Perhaps what we need are jolts every now and then to keep us aware of the need for patience especially at times when we feel like giving up.
I am one of those people who have got this kind of seemingly incurable illness. There are times when I feel the need to slow down and take things easily, to be quiet and to exercise a bit of patience (of which I somehow lack to a great degree) with myself as well as others. I might as well have a friend named Patience to nudge me every now and then, urging me to stay cool and take things easy especially on situations I would find my sense of perseverance evaporating into thin air.
I was driving out of the parking area one day when I realized I lost my car park card the moment I reached the exit gate. I looked and searched everywhere – under the car seat, inside my pocket, my wallet, but the card was nowhere to be found. I felt so embarrassed at the long queue of motorists that got stuck behind me but I could not do anything about it. Finally, I asked the security guard’s help to guide me as I back the car. I parked temporarily at one side and inspected the place where I earlier parked my car. There was no card there. I looked inside my bag of groceries, inspected my pocket (again), the driver’s seat. There was no card to be found. I was about to give up when I suddenly noticed something white sticking out under the front seat of the passenger’s side of the car. It was the card! How come I did not notice it at once? I felt so awful thinking of the time wasted. I could have been home already at this moment, I told myself. I made the round again towards the exit. This time the queue of cars going out was much longer. It took me almost thirty minutes before I finally got out. A simple lesson in patience? You bet it was. I went home philosophizing that I needed the jolt to shape me up. Thanks, my friend.
A friend once commented that modern technology also shapes our way of communicating with people. He observes that because we have been so used in getting and receiving things instantly, our level of tolerance and perseverance is very low. Since we are accustomed to instant communication and information, we have little patience with people who are slow. He further laments the fact that the personal touch in communicating has somewhat diminished because of the presence of electronic communication that does not require us to be present all the time while communicating with others. The Internet, telephone, text messaging, oftentimes acts as substitutes for our appearance. He concedes that these technologies are very important and necessary to facilitate communication and information but should not hinder us in establishing and deepening meaningful relationships.
Well, there is some truth in what my friend said, but I do not agree with him all the way. Maybe the “instant mentality” syndrome has affected our lifestyle but I believe the virtues of tolerance, patience and perseverance are still ingrained in our value system. Perhaps what we need are jolts every now and then to keep us aware of the need for patience especially at times when we feel like giving up.
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