It is good to contemplate especially when you are deeply in love with a person. Being with the one you loved is no wasted time. Every second is so precious, every detail of action is so important. Every breathe that comes out from the other is heart pounding. And the sacredness of a loving caress truly make you ask for more.

One thing I notice is that when loving couple are together privately, (sharing with my own experience) loving sigh and silence, are the best words to understand what the heart and soul says. The mere silence of the significant other says it all. You are surrounded with different profound emotions and expression of love. Pure happiness enfolds you and everything fall automatically, without any effort at all. Sacred and loving silence, without uttering a word, truly penetrates the innermost faculties of one’s heart and soul.

True love is a two way stream, NOT ONE WAY. It’s a TOTAL connection of yourself to the other. It’s a divine union with the one you love… ONE! You can understand what I am talking about ONLY IF you did fall in love deeply and gave a 100% of yourself in a relationship. IF, you gave ONLY a 99% and still save a 1% for yourself, frankly, you’ll not understand what I am sharing and talking about.

When I am alone in the most Blessed Sacrament (Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration), same thing I am experiencing with the True Lover of my Soul, Jesus Christ (as St. Therese of Lisieux described Jesus, the Lover of my Soul) I felt no boredom, but pure enjoyment in the silence of love. Being with the one you truly love made every moment especial. No uttering of words but every detail of silent conversation is so profound. No words… no thoughts… but overwhelming conversation of the heart and soul… ONE! Understanding is effortless! Alone with God, He taught me to LISTEN, to SURRENDER and to be CONSUMED by His infinite grace. What a very comforting feeling that only my True Love can give.  Absolute security!

Silence is an inward maturity. Some people thought, that being physically silent, specifically by not talking or raw prudent make them arrive in a contemplative way of life. Silence is a gift, a grace from God. It is not a special spiritual tool of greatness or spiritual advancement. There is no such thing as advance in the realm of spirituality. We are all beginners to understand God’s love and every experience is quite unique. Like a child who submits to his father’s love, it entails total trust and complete surrender. This enveloped a deep relationship with the divine- self, arriving to God’s loving, powerful and holy presence. The doctors of the church manifested the same experiences, and that is simply being deeply in love with their Creator, their True Lover, Jesus Christ… this not require a higher knowledge or theology. It is God’s infinite wisdom that guide and taught them with the mysteries of His divinity and divine love… a basic fact.

Let’s go back about being in love. A person who is deeply in love expresses so much his inward disposition on the exterior. You can see love in his eyes, in his lips, in his gestures, the way he move his hands, the way he smile, the way he talk or whatsoever. Love manifested in his countenance with tremendous power, overflowing blessing and peace. The same thing, you can easily see a person who is faithful in his prayer life and if he is spiritually grounded, if he manifest all these in his action and character. Particularly, I am referring to holiness manifesting! Personally, describing it as holy silence within. Tame, joyful, loud, shining, simple, gentle, pure and very powerful!

Also, the essential and grounded verity is… experiencing all these grace and consolation is a balance of being human, with both feet on the ground, likewise, humbly coming home to God with a child-like heart, desiring to enter His grace and be carried in His loving arms.

As I end, let me share with you that your friend honeybrisket is not perfect.  Unworthy as I am… God who is all merciful have a purpose for me, for you and in every situation. And this purpose is always the best for us. God uses every situation, whether the persona of that circumstance is ugly, disgusting, poor and helpless… All these are opportunities for individual growth and maturity, an avenue to change, a metanoia. For all people grow but not all people mature. And holy silence can be a great teacher in finding ourselves in the center of our being and in the community we are part with.  It is being mindful of God’s presence in every detail of creation and that is a blessing of overflowing faith.

Peace to you my friend!

P.S     Please read my older post and I hope that in my small way, I can extend God’s love to each and everyone.  For my non- catholics friends this is an extension of the many good things that life has to offer.  In peace and unity… Honeybrisketbabyfat.

I would like to share my meditation- reflection with a verse from my favorite Psalm 23… “You anoint my head with oil”…

Often problem knock in our doorstep. Family problem, sibling rivalry, business distress, a relationship that will soon come to an end, financial crisis, sickness, death and more predicament to mention.

In a grassland, often, when a sheep encounter the annoying and distracting insects and other winged parasites. Usually, it will bump its head to bushes or tree trunk for it to find relief from the annoying insects. This is very stressful to the sheep. On the other hand, if an attentive shepherd noticed that his sheep is in trouble. He immediately grabs an oil and applies it to the head of his troubled sheep. Because of the anointing of the oil, dramatically, the sheep’s behavior changes and can now enjoy a stress- free rest.  Free from all danger and fear.  Free from the annoying insects that linger around it’s head.

I believe that you and I have a lot to share about the insects and parasites that fly and crawl “in us” and “with us”.  I too am experiencing terrible misfortune from all these distressing events whether in business, family matter, health concern and many more.   Fear gripped me and I find myself melancholy most of the time whenever I am in the situation.  Very distressing! 

Where did I draw my strength and courage facing all these problems simultaneously?  As a Catholic- Christian, I draw and equipped myself through prayer and silence.  Through prayer and contemplation, I found the answer to my weary heart.  We can think with clarity and see ourselves… and in still waters we can find the answer.  And he brought me there… alone…  I am referring to my sacred space, and we are the one who create such space in the inner recesses of our soul, there you’ll find the divine in you.   In your sacred space, you find comfort, healing and rest.  

I spent time alone in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel where I surrender all my cares and gather all the good things in this universe.  Oh! Now I have all these good things, the wisdom is, my problem is so little compare to the good things around me.  Now, that made sense and make me smile!  Well, it’s not a one night process, and it is God’s grace for me to accept, to have faith in his living promises and to take courage that everything will be well.  FOR ALL SHALL BE WELL… ALL MATTER AND THINGS SHALL BE WELL! 

But God who is all loving is truly amazing!   He unloaded all these useless anxiety.  He uplifted my heavy heart.  And clear my mind that is so clouded.  He sanctified me with such grace that soothes the soul.

God speak to us with our body, with life’s occurrences, friends, disaster or even in the simplest things.   

As a Christian believer, it’s wisdom to know that everything will be okay if I put my BIG God in the center of my troubled spirit.  There is where the anointing comes in.  And now that my head is anointed with my shepherd’s oil of comfort, whom shall I be afraid off?  No one!  For no one is able to harm me, for my Good Shepherd is carrying me in His strong and caring arms ALL THE TIME.  No more flying insects that annoy and trouble me.  He delighted me with so much love, healing and comfort.

A person who chooses peace, love, and oneness to SELF and the creation, will able to see with a  laser- like clarity what really matter in this life because he is “in focus”.  And you’ll able to be at focus if you’ll know how to be still.  Be still and know God….. be still and discover your divinity….. be still..… be..…     

As I end, I picture myself like a warrior facing and conquering all my problems with victory ahead.  Honestly, I fear facing them, but I choose not to be controlled by fear.  And only God’s grace can make me say… I CAN!  I AM CAPABLE!  I AM!     

Let our Good Shepherd apply to your head His anointing and surely you’ll never be the same again, walking life’s journey with courage, perseverance, harmony and serenity.

I personally took the picture above (Jesus, the Good Shepherd) when I was in the city of Jericho in Jordan.  We visited a very small and simple chapel, and I find it very comforting.  I hope you’ll like it!  Peace to all!

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 ”When flowing water … meets with obstacles on its path, a blockage in its journey, it pauses. It increases in volume and strength, filling up in front of the obstacle and eventually spilling past it….  ”Do not turn and run, for there is nowhere worthwhile for you to go. Do not attempt to push ahead into the danger … emulate the example of the water: Pause and build up your strength until the obstacle no longer represents a blockage.”  

- from Higher Awareness on “Water wisdom” …..

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I was so inspired by this 15 years old Nepalese boy who meditated under a pipal tree for three years without food and water. Watching the boy sitting motionless with the same position day by day really amazed me! I was so sanctified by his peaceful countenance. I felt a profound peace within me just by keenly watching every detail of his face and serene posture as he sit motionless in a deep meditation.  What a supernatural phenomenon!  An average human being would be expected to die from kidney failure after four days without drinking any fluids.  Ram showed no sign of physical weakening and dehydration but consistently remained in a very serene and intense state of meditation. 

I am not a Buddhist, but I believe on the ecumenism and the oneness of celestial knowledge of the Divine.  The universal divine who transcend love, peace, unity, holiness and all the graces where the soul and spirit rest. I am one in the equality, the oneness, the total understanding and true wisdom, and the nothingness of an individual in all forms of faith and belief. 

But to tell you my friend, I know very little with all these wonderful experiences of divinity.  The universe is so substantial that I only get not even a hand full or perhaps a very diminutive piece of its mystery, as I remain very faithful with my Catholic- Christian Credo.  Well, everybody have a story to tell about their piece of heaven.  And no one can question and measure the divine love you are experiencing because it transpire only between you and God, no one else!

 
 
In connection with this, let me share with you an excerpt that I just read entitled “The Heart Sutra”, which means the Heart of  the Great Wisdom. I am not an expert with other doctrine or whatsoever, but let me impart this because it is somehow similar to the teachings of St. John of the Cross and the spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux on nothingness. I am convince that the teachings of John are acceptable in the faith and belief of Buddhism.

 
Pardon me but I edited  some terminology and change few of it to its general meaning.  Every word of this wonderful Heart Sutra has penetrated my being. How powerful it is that every phrase truly consumed me. I find this mindful for people who seek nothingness to arrive at everything. I hope your soul will savour to its unfathomable space as you chew every bit of its emptiness that will fill every inch of your mind, body and soul.

“Heart of the Great Wisdom”

When a sincere truth seeker attains the wisdom of enlightenment,

he realizes that all the five senses which are the bodily forms, sensation, perception, mental creations and consciousness are empty and he transcends every suffering.

Listen: All things are no different from emptiness; emptiness is not different from all things.

Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.

Feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness are also like this.

The original nature of all things is neither born nor extinguished.

There is no purity, no defilement; no gain, no loss.

In this world of emptiness there is no form, no feelings, perceptions, impulses, or consciousness.

No eye, ear, tongue body, or mind.

Therefore, no color, sound, smell, taste, touch, or thought.

The world of form does not exist, nor the world of the mind or of ignorance; no old age and no death. Yet there is continuous ignorance, old age, and death.

There is no suffering, no cause of suffering, no cessation of suffering; no wisdom and no attainment because there is nothing to be attained.

The compassionate truth-seeker depends upon the wisdom of enlightenment. When the mind does not become attached to anything, there are no obstacles and fear does not exist.

This mind goes beyond all disruptive views and attains paradise.

All the enlightened sentient of the past, present and future depend upon the wisdom of enlightenment–and so attain the supreme, wisdom of enlightenment as the great unexplainable true word, the great shining true word that is able to remove all suffering. It is true, not false.

This true word of wisdom says: Gone, gone, totally
Gone, completely gone, perfect wisdom, so be it!…

Palden Dorje

Emptiness suggests that nothing really exists, but that’s not the intention of what is being express here.  Thus, emptiness state the existence of reality, and that all things exist really.  Here, emptiness means that things are “as they are” 

We animate in a humanity of theophanies. Holiness hides in the ordinary. There are burning bushes all around us. Every tree is full of angels. Miracle is always happening at hand. And this can happen only if you are willing to unlock the ordinary by believing and holding on with your little faith.

As I unwind, If we will sum up all the great teachings in this world, from Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc. It’s a resounding melody of peace, love, unity, forgiveness and repentance.  

Pure spirituality out cry for healing and salvation of the soul from all evil and worldly attachment, that devastate the human heart from its good nature.  For all things are No-Things (Nothing).  All things will soon fade, all things are futile, all things are forgotten, all things passes, all things now decay.

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“There is one thing that all true spirituality has in common, whether that spirituality is derived from faith, from science, from nature or from the arts – a sense of wonder!” -Andrew Schneider 

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Peace to All!

In this entry, I would like to share some of my reflections from my retreat. To make it clear, I have no intention to teach but rather to share God’s love from my experiences, thoughts from my heart.  I hope that with these humble reflections of mine, I may be able to accompany you in your journey to what life has yet to offer. I also posted “a lot” of pictures that I personally took at the end of my retreat. However, pardon me for I am not a very good photographer, but I look-in that you’ll able to like the photos anyway.  It’s my first time to post so many pictures and putting it at the center that I will have more space to write my reflections.  Enjoy!

Scenery from the veranda of the SSS Novitiate House

To retreat is to “go back”. My goal is to be still and find strength and hope. To refuel and be renewed from the exhausting routine of life’s turmoil and strife. To be watchful and remind myself the disciplines that formed every foundation of my nothingness. And that is to trust God, to be enveloped by His everlasting love and to yield myself like a baby or much better…His beloved spouse. (Because Jesus is so much in love with me and I am so much in love with Him who loved me first.)

Holy Water Font of the Chapel Entrance

In my retreat, I was able to evaluate, to listen and to seek for direction, to be open to the reality of LIFE. It taught me to gain clearer perspective and deeper engagement with the SELF and my BIG God. My retreat is to go back to the center of my being. For much- doing is not always productive and solitude is not a paradox- wasted time, not to charge the spiritual batteries, not to escape, not to withdraw but simply a call to be at HOME where change and rationalisation takes place. To retreat is to partake in a feast on spiritual growth and maturity. To find liberty and pay forward the gift of freedom.

It's so good to meditate the goodness of the Lord!

Retreat is simply to return and not to advance. It’s not an act of moving forward or gaining momentum spiritual merit. It is a call to refresh our faith, to be embrace and experience God’s presence intimately. The road to retreat is discovering that I am more precious and more than anything, that I need not to worry but to have a grounded trust in the Lord. Whom shall I fear? What a very astonishing experience within! Sweet surrender!

Walk in the holy ground and find deep within the sacred space and healing place. -Sr. Eppie Brazil, OP

How I miss so much the intimacy and fellowship on praying (praying from the deepest recesses of my heart) with the God of the universe who is my Great Lover. He renewed me by His loving presence. Secure me with His living and unwavering promises of love that is forever alive and eternal!

I took this picture at the back of the seminary building

Generally, we are good in slating others and even better in giving counsel, assuming that we know what is best for others. In my retreat, I was fortunate to journey with other novices who attempt to find resolution and healing in their struggles without withholding but to let go of everything in exchange to what is truly valuable and does not perish.

In my solitary where I seek my inner resources. I arrive that I can love much… because I experienced being deeply loved, I can care much… because I experienced being nurtured. I forgive, because I was forgiven. What a grace! And indeed I thank the Lord for all these, not because I was so pampered with love and care, but changing my attitude and way of thinking to the circumstances and every situation whether good and the not so good.

In my retreat, I seek deeper to the centre of security and compassion that I may able to understand more myself and others. And the seeking never ends.

Entrance to the SSS Novitiate House

In my being silent, it’s not the will to be just physically silent. But to tamed the lashing tongue and release all the evil in my heart that I may progress my inward disposition and find true serenity that comes only from the God of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ. However, these consolations are not the essence of being silent but to be passionate and authentic with the acts of love, with our deeds and having the genuine service for others. For peace is not a fruit of circumstances but can only found down within… true silent “within” and it can be discern because it radiates from the person’s aura, the way he act and speak in the manner that illumines overflowing peace that is profound.

That's not me okay

As I end, may I share a quote by Charles Ringma in his book Dare to Journey… “The secret of the spiritual life is to recognize that the Great Lover welcomes us as we are- not to pity us, but to gently transform us and inspire us with new hope.”

To pray is to LISTEN!

One theme of this blog is PRAYER, but in my previous entries, I haven’t posted any prayers yet.  Allow me to share with you some of my favourite prayers that I usually recite mentally when I’m in solitary.  Or sometime whenever my personal prayer ceases me, that I needed the aid of these very beautiful and profound prayers from the heart. 

I will not share on HOW to pray, but only to impart few of the well known prayers that I loved the most. Likewise, on how I arrived and experienced my personal union with God through prayer.   

For we all have our unique ways of praying.  Whether by means of meditation, contemplation, singing, dancing, work and prayer, breathing or simply just being still… or… just “to be”… and the most simple way is to pray without words and“IN” love.

Okay, let me give you an example… 

When a person is in love… I mean deeply in love.  Often, words need not to be uttered anymore.  The body language, the eyes, the loving smile and gesture express it all!

When you love someone, you just want to listen to his or her stories.  You find sweet intimacy with every breathe and words coming from that person.  Every detail interest you.  Mutual understanding is automatic and effortless.

When you receive a kiss from the one you loved.  It is good to feel that passionate kisses by simply closing your eyes and being carried away to the heavens above!  No words… but only loving kisses… in silence.  (Oh my! Now I miss my sweetheart.)

Without malice but in the union of loving couples, (let me emphasize again being “deeply in love”), often you just behold the person’s beauty.  Sometime you stop for awhile and gaze on everything about the significant other.  Loving sigh!  You are speechless and at the same time every moment is sacred with that person.  (This is not a valentine pro bono okay haha!)

In my humble opinion, expressing prayer in silence and sacred romance is nearly quite the same.  Though here, we are connecting ourselves to God (sacred moment with God).  What I am trying to say is that, prayer is like being with the one you love.  A love song that lifts you high, that brings you to the heights of perfection.  Wherein you will only find peace, comfort, healing and love.  This is a simple thought that I expressed and experienced in my personal prayer.  I don’t know the theology of prayer but I would like to share with you what I knew from my heart. 

Every time I will watch EWTN (Catholic Network) I am so consumed by the prayers of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  Whenever she will recite the Family Prayer, I will find myself in total peace of being.  I chew slowly and savoured every sacred word until it penetrated the innermost faculties of my heart and soul.  What a refreshing consolation!  Pure joy and profound peace!  I hope and implore that you’ll find and experience the same joy and peace that I enjoyed. I suggest you read the prayer slowly…

(Mother Teresa composed this prayer for the United Nations International Year of the Family)

Heavenly Father, you have given us a model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Help us, O loving Father to make our family another Nazareth

where love, peace and joy reign.

May it be deeply contemplative, intensely Eucharistic and vibrant with joy.

Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow through family prayer.

Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our family especially in their distressing disguise. May the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus make our hearts meek and humble like His

and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way.

May we love one another as God loves each one of us more and more each day,

and forgive each other’s faults as You forgive our sins.

Help us, O loving Father to take whatever You give and to give whatever You take

with a big smile.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Holy Guardian Angels be always with us, guide and protect us.

Amen.

 As I recall when I was in Mindanao, one of my monk friend told me before… Honeybrisket… “For you to arrive at everything, desire to possess nothing.”  

Truly, God will fill your brim if you are “empty”.   How can God fill you when you are already filled with so much worldly attachment that are futile and that easily perish?  “Let my prayer be is to desire for nothing that I may possess everything!”  And God is my everything!

One classic prayer that I loved so much and I doubt many adults don’t usually pray this anymore, is the Angel of God.  Whenever I recite this prayer, it always make me arrived to be a “kid” at heart.

Angel of God,
my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love
commits me here,
Ever this day,
be at my side,
To light and guard,
Rule and guide.

Amen.

Lastly, a short sacred song that I usually play in my room when I’m alone entitled Sacred Space by Sr. Eppie Brazil, OP.  Very invigorating when accompanied by rhythmic breathing and meditation, this mantra of sacred song is so perfect that it will permeate every cell of your being.  So refreshing!

“Deep within me now is a Sacred Space,

And to God I bow for this gift of grace”

(Slowly repeat over and over until you are consumed by the prayer,

until you become a prayer yourself.)

Utter the prayer… Pray mentally… until you become silent in prayer.

I hope I imparted not only inspiring thoughts from my previous blog, but sharing with you inspiring, simple and beautiful yet profound classic prayers from the heart.  And I will really appreciate if you could also post your personal or favourite prayers here in my blog.  That will be great!

Let us all be a living prayer in this world!

 “Respect beget respect”…. I want to picture a world that is perfect, a world at peace and harmony.  I can create all these possibilities in my mind where in people of all walks of life, faith, race and tongue can be equal and united.  Though this is hard to imagine.  Too perfect to be true. 

For your kind knowledge, your sweetheart honeybrisketbabyfat is not an atheist.  I am a friendly catholic who welcome everybody in my humble piece of heaven.  And this blog is an extension of my sacred space wherein I can write down my thoughts without the fear of discrimination and judgement.

In my opinion, there are only two kinds of people in this world.  And that is good and evil.  In every organization, community or family, these two can be found. 

When I had a business trip in India last 2007, I visited a Hindu temple.  Being curious, I walked inside, that I may see how the interior structure look like.  To my surprise, there is a big wooden sign outside the temple gate written… NON HINDUS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE TEMPLE.  Oh!  I cannot take some pictures to take home.  Nevertheless, I just enjoyed taking some pictures outside.  However, there are some small temples that are meant for tourist viewing.

Anyway, me and my Indian friend who is also a Catholic Christian shared about this thought.  Oh! We are lucky to be Christian!  In our faith, everybody are welcome …  a very simple and short thought.  That God, our Lord Jesus… WELCOMES EVERYBODY… INVITES EVERYBODY… rich, poor, whoever you are, whatever you are… COME! Let us feast!  And enjoy the overflowing banquet that I have prepared for you.  But who came?  The poor, the people who know nothing… the simple people.     

Modesty aside, but in my very young age, God let me experienced to travel some part of the world.  I have witness different culture, different belief, different norm and different faith.  But as I sum it up, nothing is really far different between me and the people from around the world.  And yes!  I have observed much grounded similarity.  That all over the world, there is only good and evil.  They are everywhere!  They might be in your workplace, inside the monastery, the school, the government and “within” us… GOOD AND EVIL…..     

If you notice that in my two previous entries, “A Tribute to My Beloved” & “In The Presence Of My Enemies” I welcomed some of my beloved guest (readers) in my cyber blog “unity table”. They come from different faith who wrote me in my personal email that they are one with me in peace, unity and love.  Some are buddhist, some atheist, some muslim, other catholic and christian alike. 

I also had some bad experiences to people of different faith.  However, I also have A LOT of good experiences with them.  This is a very simple reason and an avenue to define our purpose of reaching out, sharing God’s love, sharing our faith to our brothers and sisters who have different views, concept, and ideology with what they know, with what they believe. 

Maybe, if I am born a muslim, I will still share this kind of approach in writing my thoughts.  Or maybe, if I am born a buddhist, perhaps, I will still write the same thing, having the nature to be one with the entire creation.  If I may quote one of my atheist readers’ comment… “I agree, and I plan to go and be a better atheist. The idea is that we strive to be better people and love one another. It’s a new year, change is in the air, now it’s time to move forward! –from Scatheist ( Comment from my entry” In the Presence of My Enemies”)

Wow! This one soul uplifted my heart!  Sweet heaven!  And he put a very handsome smile in my face after I read his comment.  This is not an issue of stereotyping & branding.  But in my humble belief… it’s the good and evil all over the world.  The good and evil “with us” … “in” us.   

Just a thought…

What is in the heart of Gandhi when he kept silent and walked for peace?

What is in the heart of Mother Teresa of Calcutta when she is reaching out for the poorest of the poor?

What is in the heart of Pope Benedict  the XVI when he uplifted the ex-communication of the bishops of the Society of St. Pius X?

What is in the heart of St. Francis of Assisi when he renounced all his richness and human comfort?

What is in the heart of Pope John Paul II when he visited and embrace Mehmet Ali Agca, the turkish man who shot him in Vatican, May 1981?

“For faith is the substance of all things that we hoped for”… and I hold on to my little faith to understand these works of love.  And I believe these great people see things universally.  They see things as ONE.  They see SOULS and not just mere human beings.

Who is righteous anyway?  Pick up a stone and cast it.  We are free to do whatever we want.  And I must say, there is nothing harm done to choose and express what is good, and share the goodness of the Lord in our lives.

Peace to all! (Not faction) 

I would like to share with you these profound ideas by St. John of the Cross and his short biography.  

I believe that even we belong to different walk of faith, our journey in this lifetime it to unite with God at the sunset of our lives.  To simplify my context and way of thinking is, to unite ourselves with the DIVINE SELF. 

What is your concept of God? Is it a flower that reminded you of your love one?  A “Christmas” that gather your family to be together and gave happiness in your heart?  A friend who helped you in your lowest moment?  These  simple concepts might help you. 

I hope this will sound universal and ecumenical for the benefit of my atheist brothers and sisters and to the different faith in this world who accepted and respected my writings and personal thoughts in the blogosphere. 

For everybody are welcome to sit, talk, laugh and eat with me in my blog “unity table” without reservation, discrimination and argument but only to understand, share ideas, respect, to be at peace and to love! 

Okay! The steak with honey sauce and hot noodles are ready to be served.  Lets enjoy!

Few Profound Ideas from St.John of the Cross

- Substantial union with God is that by which the soul exists.

- The union of likeness, also called transforming or mystical union, is that by which the soul becomes like God.

- God is darkness to the soul in that the divine is essentially other than the human.

- Since the means must be proportionate to the end, the soul must travel in darkness to the Divine Darkness.

- The journey in darkness is named the via negativa.

- Night is the image for the dark journey of detachment as the soul actively purges herself of desires for that which is specific, concrete, and particular and as God purges her of desires and dependencies.

- Detached in terms of her senses and higher faculties, the soul knows only the dark, confused, and general, which is God.

- In the experience of being purged by God, suffering is epistemology.

- Love is both the mode and content of knowing

Biography of My Favorite Saint.

St. John of the Cross stands as one of the most important mystical philosophers in Christian history. The son of a rich merchant, John was born Juan de Yepes y Alvarez in Fontiveros, Spain in 1542. John’s father died when the boy was quite young, leaving his mother, a member of a lower social class, to raise him alone. After gaining employment in a plague hospital, John, at age 18, began to study with the Jesuits. He entered the Carmelite Order in 1563, continuing his studies at the University of Salamanca, where he began to teach while still a student. After being ordained in 1567, John met St. Teresa of Avila, another of the great mystics of the Christian tradition.

Following Teresa’s lead in attempting to reform his Order, John, in 1568, initiated a very severe form of monasticism in a tiny farmhouse. These monks went so far as to go barefoot, indicating their commitment to poverty, lending to them the appellation of “Discalced” or “shoeless.” Over time, a rift arose between the traditional Carmelites and John’s Discalced Carmelites, leading in 1576 to John’s arrest and imprisonment. During this period of imprisonment, John wrote much of the poetry that would provide his greatest contribution to later generations.

Eventually, the rights of the Discalceds were recognized, and John took on various roles of leadership within the order. After some fifteen years of leadership, he died in 1591, leaving behind a number of remarkable works of Christian mysticism: Ascent of Mount Carmel, Dark Night of the Soul, and the Spiritual Canticle of the Soul. 

 
Anyway, as a generous giver, receiving something is a rare experience for me. When I receive something like a cup of coffee, a small token of gift especially to people who have limited resources, my happiness is overwhelming. If they only knew how they made my day. “And I am referring about the giving from the heart, and receiving something with so much gladness and contentment.” For me, even a simple thought from a friend, a call, a tap on my shoulder, a smile… is already a gift I may call. Simple in there ordinary ways but profoundly taken by me. Everybody can give their time, talent and treasure but not everybody have the authenticity to give from the innermost faculties of the heart. 

 
Sometime, I tend to refuse accepting something for I am not use of receiving something. But my spiritual mentor told me that if you are a generous giver, you must be generous to receive also with a thankful heart… and why not? Where is this attitude coming from? Perhaps I am accustomed in my early years and life status to give than to receive.

 
Sometime, I am fed up of giving… giving myself, giving what I have, giving my time, giving financial aid, giving my heart… ah! Is this my role in life? And at the end I am left behind in the finished line. But I realize that this thinking is not healthy, it’s so selfish and self-centered. There should be a balance in every area of our lives… a balance of everything!

 
One time when I was taking a hot shower, I contemplated with this gift of giving. Why should I be exhausted with these beautiful and grace of giving?
The God in my heart speak so sweetly: My sweetheart honeybrisket (not my real name huh!) I give myself to you, I didn’t complain, I give all my time just to be with you and I’m so happy! I give my life, my all and I am so happy! Even, when you blame me, laugh at me, smack me on my face, spit on me, stepped on me, curse me… I continue to give unconditionally… because of one simple and grounded reason….. I love you so much! And He smiled…. grrrrrr!

 
Wow! What a grace! (Hello hot water is that you? Perhaps the water is so hot that it purified my mind from all these filthy egocentric thinking). I was humbled and started to ask God for forgiveness of being selfish and stupid. I am so sorry, I never thought of that. You gave me an overflowing blessing of resources both my “within and my without”. You filled my heart with good things that I may able to share all these graces. You created me as a gift for everybody and I will continue to share Your blessing and be a blessing. I will continue to understand, to reach out, to heal and to give. I am so ashamed of myself when I realized all these simple and basic truth. I look in the wind and remain still as I clearly understand the wisdom and knowledge of the gift of giving.

Sharing these thoughts is a small way of imparting myself,  giving myself, and the abundant blessings that was given to me. And I believe your response with a smile, with comment or without comment, is simply called a gift that I am happy to receive.  And I’ll consider that as your love letter for me.  For the fundamentalist, I think they will never understand what I am talking about.  Because I am not referring only to material things here but giving something that you have like… love, friendship, faith and many more..  Definitely you cannot give something that you don’t have.

 
And I am sure that all of us have the power and the grace to give with generosity and love. Even wicked people can do this simple thing.  Giving with a heart… is not exclusive… it’s free and it’s for everybody…

P.S   I took the picture above when I had my pilgrimage in Jerusalem, November last year.  It is the Franciscan emblem of the hands of Jesus Christ and St. Francis of Assisi with the Jerusalem cross at the top-center.  I believe the picture above is one way to simplify the “Gift of Giving“.  Carrying our crosses and being crucified at via Dolorosa, as we hang a man on a tree in Calvary… and the only thing He did is ONLY to love us… nothing more!  And until now and forever, that love is alive!  All consuming, unchanging and eternal.

It’s simply all about a big fat panda named Po who wanted to be a Dragon Warrior (Kung Fu Master). One thing that I like about this movie is the expression of perseverance in the midst of odds. Second is the greatness of humility. Truly humility always uplift the person’s character in every aspect of life. And lastly, surprises in an unexpected packaging, because it’s easy to see ugliness before beauty, and weaknesses before strength.

When you hear about “Dragon Warrior”, I ask you… What will you imagine? Tell me? A hunk warrior like the Scorpion King? A great wu shu champion and actor like Jet Li. Or Chow Yun Fat in his amazing crouching tiger techniques? Perhaps your favorite karate actor whoever he is. But here, everybody was disappointed seeing the dragon warrior in a persona of a BIG! FAT! PANDA!, and take note! He knew nothing about kung fu.

But the old turtle (Tai-Long)that played the great Tai- Chi Kung Fu Master told Po’s mentor, “There are no accidents, all you need is to BELIEVE.” The phrase really smack my heart… ALL YOU NEED IS TO BELIEVE… THERE IS NO ACCIDENT… ALL YOU NEED IS TO BELIEVE…

One pre-requisite for you to be able to fully acquire the title of being a dragon warrior is for you to have the dragon scroll. By having this scroll, it will give you great powers! However, when they opened the dragon scroll, they see none but a reflection of themselves.

Ah! Nobody understood! Until Po’s father (duck) told him… my son… “The secret to my secret ingredient noodle is NOTHING!” Then, Po realized that there is no secret ingredient to be someone. There is no secret to be a great dragon warrior. All you need to do is to believe that you can! That you are capable! That you are special, that you are unique.

Often, people strangle us in many ways whether emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual. Everybody has a piece of cake in this world. The invalidation and punitive words from our parents, sibling, teacher, co-workers, society, etc., are too much to carry that sometime we just want to jump in the bridge and end our lives. Or conceivably rebel and be a delinquent individual. Not knowing that at the end, we end up losers. These powerful words of disapproval and invalidation can create a wound in our heart and soul. And the wound, far deeper than any other physical injury, takes a long time to heal unless we accept and open ourselves to forgiveness as we bless the past event in our lives. Then, that’s the time to claim healing and move one step forward.

These wounds of invalidation that resulted to low self-esteem, if not supported by good friends and family, can trap and chain your entire being with a heavy iron block (it’s a metaphor of course). As if it is literally chaining your neck, your hands, your chest, your legs and your feet for ages! You can never reach even your self–concept and be someone you would like to be if you imprison yourself of resentment, hatred and traditions. All these dries up the bone. For your worst enemy is yourself. And your best friend is… yourself! How about getting use to befriend the other self, what I mean is befriending the worst in you. In this way, you’ll be a balance individual because you are aware of your strength and weaknesses. Awareness of the SELF is your tool to empowerment. (Go get that dragon scroll okay!)

As for me, let me share with you an approach that I usually do whenever I will be in a situation that will made my spirit droop. I usually create an invincible wall in front of me. Even as I look straight in the eye with the person who is throwing sharp arrow words that can truly wound my soul. Why will I allow him to do such thing on me? I choose not to allow him. I will not let his words of invalidation penetrate my heart. I’ll let his words of cursing hit and break the invincible wall that is in front of me before it hit me. My next step is to smile at him as if nothing happened. I support his anger because I don’t need those negative energies anyway. If it will make him happy to curse me, so be it. But the keyword is by NOT ALLOWING TO PENETRATE the heart.

I have the power to choose! And I have the power to be what I want to be. To be someone who is unique. We can create greater possibilities if we will change the way we think in a very healthy attitude and having a very good mental hygiene. That is authenticity! And one thing that kept my feet on the ground is my relationship with our universal Divine that is very important, to keep up the day by day struggle in life. “IGNORE the little devils and they will end up powerless over you.”

Based on a true story of an american couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, who spent their 15 years in the Philippines as a christian missionaries. They were held hostages by the Abu Sayyaf, a group of terrorist connected to Osama Bin Laden in the remote island of Basilan in Mindanao, southern part of the Philippines. The Burnham’s experienced a year of agony and strife in this remote and unexplored jungle.

Every chapter of the book made me cry as if I am there watching what was going on that time. Her presentation is so personal that you can feel yourself among them. I am so bless to know Martin (her husband) not personally of course but as how Gracia presented him in her book. That even I had no way to talk with him personally, he (Martin) imparted a great deal of faith and optimism in my being as I read every page of the book. What a deep person Martin was, a very grounded and down to earth guy, full of faith and courage in his heart. He just uplifted my soul in this earthly conquest.

As I meditated with what I am reading, I remember a bible phrase in my favourite Psalm23. Especially verses 4 to 6;

NIV Version*

[1]The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want
[2]He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters
[3]He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
[4]Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me ; your rod and staff they comfort me
[5]You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows
[6]Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

It is by God’s grace for the Burnham to endure this terrible ordeal. Not only experiencing the scripture in their spiritual journey BUT experiencing it literally in the jungle of Basilan. They realize more God’s power and constant care as the Good Shepherd.
Isn’t it that walking in the dark valley of death with your enemies will make your knees chill to death. I guess if I am in their situation I will surely die and wanted to immediately eject and pop out in the air. But God in His mysterious plan that we cannot see is always marvelous and perfect. His ways are profound and life changing. Even in the midst of the very limited resources and comfort… God comforted the hearts of Gracia & Martin.

In connection with these, when King David refer to a table in the presence of my enemies, the psalmist is not referring to a banquet table. I personally picture this table as a metaphor. A plateau high above the hills and the mountain where the sheep can graze and eat peacefully in green pasture. Even the enemies presence are everywhere, the Good Shepherd can see on the top of the hill the wolves below the high plateau. For sure, wolves are faster predator in lower ground but will have difficulty in such high level upland. I myself am a cattleman, and we usually bring our cattles in a higher ground with lush green pasture where they are stress- free. It is very important for this large animal to rest and eat well without fear, without the presence of anyone except the one shepherding them. Even cattles know their master just like the sheep.

On the other hand, the Burnhams are literally “in the presence of their enemies”. Can you picture the sheeps among the wolves in this scenario? Brushing their elbow side by side with the tyrant Abu Sayyaff is so horrible to imagine. Put God in that scenario and you’ll perfectly see His shepherding care and constant guidance.

During the rescue operation of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), Martin was shot in the chest and died. Gracia was shot in her right leg and survived the long nightmare. Watching her husband died as she kept her composure with what Martin have had told her… to be emotionally strong in such difficult times especially in an open fire.  Gracia kept silent and acted as one  who died in the firing confrontation between the AFP & the Abu Sayyaf, to survived and fullfil what Martin told her when they are still together.  It is so painful to imagine that the one you loved the most died beside you and the only thing you could do is to survive.  I cannot help myself but cry as I read that page in that very tragic chapter. It is given that someone usually must be a sacrifice for the many to see and witness more and more God’s overflowing love and mercy.

His steadfast and stubborn love for us is so perfect that we don’t understand the journey until we finally reach and see the outcome of His great master plan for us and for the many… For a small mind, a lost of life in a battle of good and evil is a misfortune. But however, for a man who is full of grace, yielding trust and grounded faith in the Lord, a lost of life that was live in accordance of forgiveness and love to his captors is a triumphant victory to celebrate. Because it was a life that was live to the full. Martin here is the true winner of the everlasting crown that have a great prize! As for Gracia, I guess, she will touch more souls in her earthly journey, with her very inspiring true to life story with these blinded and self-centered terrorist. Her cup will be filled with glory in God’s time, and for sure her experience with these savages made her a strong woman of faith and a living gospel of God’s salvation to humanity.

I believe that every individual relationship with God is unique. Whether your God’s name is Allah, your God’s name is Buddha, Jesus, Lord Ganesh, Shivah,Venus, the stars, the moon etc., or simply you are an atheist. LISTEN (read between the lines)… As long as YOU LIVE IN peace, YOU LIVE IN love and more love, and sharing these virtues and graces universally and ecumenically to everyone AND NOT EXCLUSIVE to your faith, without discrimination of the race, color of the skin and religion… THAT IS GOD! GOD IS WITH YOU! GOD IS THERE IN YOUR HEART… a harmonious and sound relationship with the creation of God who is ONLY ONE.

If you are a Muslim… Go! And be a better Muslim.
If you are a Christian… Go! And be a better Christian.
If you are a Buddhist… Go! And be a better Buddhist.

Surely goodness and love will follow me (Gracia, the Burnhams, the relatives and friends… and other hostages that survived in that unimaginable dark night) all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (Now, they have a foundation that you can visit at http://www.graciaburnham.org