Caring for the Environment

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalms 24:1, NIV)

Caring for what the Lord has created manifests an enlightened understanding that we are just trustees and managers of what we have now. Everything we see and use comes from God the Creator, and we have nothing to claim as possession because we don’t own anything. We are born naked, and we’ll go back to Him naked as well.

The mountains, rivers, forests, air, trees, beaches, all good things from the Lord, are blessings given for our use, not for abuse. Whatever abuse that we make, the consequence will hound us, not only the present generation but also the future ones. No wonder we experience creepy disaster, weather change, heat waves, pollution, etc., all because of our negligence.

Of course, I count myself guilty, in one way or another, for the degradation of our environment. It may be my laxity in doing nothing to protect my environment, or worse, my direct, blatant participation in “raping” it for pleasure. But as a redeemed creature of the Lord, and everyone who shares the gift of salvation, we should care for our environment to show that we honor the Creator of these things, as we ourselves are created ones. Our participation in caring and loving our environment through concrete action marks our submission to the Lordship of our Creator, and that we value all things that He values. We are loving Him when we love the good things that He created.

I believe we can do many things in caring for our environment. But I like to mention what I AM doing personally as a simple step in caring for my environment, and I hope you find your way too in practically loving our environment. These may be minute actions, but definitely not futile:
* When I can’t find a trash to dispose my candy wrappers, or any other used materials for that matter, I put them on my pocket, and throw these off when I find one.
* Though I love chewing gums, I despise gluing it anywhere.
* I refuse to put my purchased products in a plastic anymore when I can just put it on my bag, or when I will use it right away. Never mind the tender who looks at me bizarrely.
* I don’t smoke. I breathe smoke, hahaha. (RA 8749 or Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999)
* I segregate my trash (Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solidwaste Management Act of 2000 :)
* I don’t cross “over the bakod”. Trees are silently hurting.
* I support organic farming :)
* I participate in this blog action day for the environment, hehe..

Oh my, I cannot think of anything more. I guess I need more environmental awareness. Anyway, I believe what I listed above, no matter how simple they are, will be of great help. Kindly suggest more practical ways on how to care for our environment…

"We don’t have a society if we destroy our environment.” Margaret Mead (1901-1978)

Delayed Contemplation

“I don’t consider my boarding house as my mission field.” This premature statement I uttered in one Bible study is contradictory of what the Bible is saying about becoming salt and light of the world. I said that out of sincerity since I really don’t make efforts to reach out to my boardmates for I don’t spend considerable time in my boarding house. They just see me on evenings most of the times.

I forgot that it’s not only the time spent or the efforts exerted where I can minister to them. I was once a college student and I believe I could minister to them in other special ways. My life itself is testimony, a living epistle that can either put down or bring praise to the name I bear. They can either see Christ in me, or his extreme opposite.

Whenever they have their drinking spree, which I used to indulge before, I am always at the refusal point. I welcome their offers but I never accept it, so far. Yes, sometimes, I want to join them, my flesh warring with my spirit, but I thought one mistake can lead to another one, and I don’t want to put in disgrace the name I bear. I have to be firm with my conviction; I know they might think of me as indifferent, but I am not accountable to them. It’s the Lord I please.

The Lord puts me where I can grow and minister to people around me. My mission field is wherever the Lord leads me. If it seems the field is ominously dark, the light in me, how minute it may be, can still diffuse its sparkle. Oh the sparkle, lately we’re talking about the “sparks” of being a servant-leader of Christ, and yes, it hurts when people around us, especially the lost one, cannot see any “sparkle” in us. But this should serve as a challenge to all light bearers to keep their light shine and their fire aflame.

Sincerity in my utterance is immaterial if it’s not truth-driven. This delayed contemplation is better than never. :) †

Alone (but not lonely) "with" Disturbia

Twice this week that I was able to watch movies out of the thoughtfulness of a comrade through his spare complimentary tickets. I had to monitor an advertisement by the government if it’s being aired at the cinema, in return. I grabbed the ticket, because I also wanted to watch, and it’s my time to unwind after last week’s tedious travel in the awesome Benguet mountains, I thought. I joined the team of the regional committee for the welfare of children in site validation for the implementation of the early childhood care and development program, checking if the local government units are pursuing their proposed investment plans for the protection, survival, development and needs of the children. I hope I could share more stories about my 4-day mountain escapades :)

Going back, I didn’t mind going alone at the cinema, for I usually do it being an introvert. (It’s a given hint to somebody who wants to find out how boring your life would be in my company, hahaha…seriously kidding). So I proceeded to the cinema house alone, and I was welcomed by empty seats at both chambers. That was my first ever experience to watch a movie with an audience I could count with my fingers. Even if I include the roaming guard and the lady attendant, the number would still be countable within ten seconds, still an overstatement I guess. And mind you, it’s not even a last full show.

And what do you think I did that night? Of course, I sat comfortably, laid my back like a boss, and enjoyed my solitude with SM’s silver screen. The show must go on, haha. I just considered it an exciting yet peculiar experience, watching alone a suspense-thriller genre, with characters spying others and bloody-hell scenes in succession. Don’t get me wrong and don’t worry, the Uses and Gratification theory is no work on me :)

I went home walking and chuckling with my uncanny experience, while breathing in and out the misty bliss of Baguio in a cold, lonely night, that was tooooo lovely to resist. hmmm :) †

Is Jesus sometimes hesitant to reveal who He really is?

Reflecting on the first miracle of Christ – the turning of water into wine (John 2:1-11) – I got hooked with Jesus’ hesitancy on proving His deity and glory to the people around him at once. During that wedding when the master had run out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him “they have no more wine,” but Jesus’ statement “Why do you involve me, my time has not yet come” appeared to be antithetical at first. But the Lord had its course to involve in that shortage of wine. And in His directives, the servants obeyed Him, and the water turned into wine, His glory manifested, His sovereignty ruled, His power exemplified.

I know there are other truths and insights that we can absorb from this passage. And I’ll let you discover that on your own, for the Word of the Lord speaks afresh in unique ways, individually.

Sometimes, people sense the Lord is not concerned with our affairs, with our problems, with our frustrations. We even set aside Him at the closet when all things are turning well, but when things get worse we begin to search Him and ask His help. How can we expect Him to involve in our affairs, when we ourselves isolate Him from the core? Could we expect God to lend a helping hand, when both our hands are holding something (or someone) else? To make it more personal, could I expect God to grant my request when I do the things that upset Him? But despite my inconsistencies, the Lord surprises me always, proving time and again that he is gracious and never disowns His faithfulness.

I never searched God actually; He found me, and to be found by Him is my forever gratitude. The Lord can actually save and bring us instantly to the perfect relationship human had enjoyed before. But man rebelled against Him, persistently choosing his own way, and thus sin enters the humanity, making us all polluted, corrupted, and condemned. Yet, the Lord never forsakes us. He gave Christ, His only begotten Son, for our redemption, and those who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. He did His part, and He is just waiting for us, for you, to come to Him.

When it seems the Lord is hesitant to reveal himself to you, trust Him more, his hands, his heart. Maybe He is not the one who is hesitant, but you. Just come to Him, and He will accept you. I guarantee you :) †

Bluebook revisited

I was nervously excited last week’s midterm exam. I was nervous in the sense that I felt unequipped to take the exam for lack of review preparation, and excited because after a year I was again using the bluebook – a witness of my academic journey. My professor’s words “I expect a graduate essay” did not help much to ease my tension. I was just enlightened upon hearing that it would be in essay form. Teachers are more gracious in essay exam, I thought, based on my experience :)

The UP’s bluebook has been a silent spectator of my pursuit of wisdom and knowledge. I experienced both failure and euphoria with the result of my exams. But never in my college life that I consider bluebook’s result as the prime indicator of someone’s intellect. Though I believe in the concept of excellence, aiming for it would be my lifetime struggle. I am a certified patient of this disease called cramming, and this is where I usually abuse the grace of the Lord. Avoiding it is also my favorite resolution which has never been absolutely phased out in my discipline. This is beyond a graduate school’s requirement, and when I surpass this I will definitely end up excellent in my graduate studies for the glory of God. More power to me :)

I finished the test before the time expired, but I was still the last exam taker. My classmates were better off with their answers, I thought. Then my professor gave the result of my first critical paper, and all I did was to praise the Lord for the grade of 2, the lowest grade, I suspect, for his standard. Though I was in remorse state because I got the lowest mark, this challenged me to do better next time. There was no one to blame but myself, my procrastination.

I walked away affirming that God has been good to me, so good that His grace enough for that day had been abused by me. “How long, O Lord, will You tolerate me?” With the glorious riches of His grace and mercies, I am afraid though with the consequence of my action… †

Laconic Rest

After my Saturday class, I was up to go home in Pangasinan to see my family. But I seemed to be chasing after time since it’s almost 6:30pm, and I should be in Dagupan on or before 8pm, the last trip for me to reach home. By then, I was experientially calculating the time if I could beat the last trip, or else, I would pay the tricycle ride with a fare higher than my fare from Baguio to Dagupan, plus the nuisances of wandering at night in a tranquil, imperturbable ambience of my beloved province. (Those who hail from the provinces can attest that the night mode differs in urban cities).

I was also thinking of my laundry works, the church service, the short time that I would be spending when I get home, etcetera, but I was reminded that it’s almost a month now since I saw my family. And that urge to see them made me a risk taker once again. Stop explaining and making sense of everything, I said to myself. Don’t let circumstances, even the rain, hinder me to do things I want and love to do, I thought.

When it’s time for the van to move, I just uttered a short prayer of asking God His traveling mercies. And I took a nap, expecting that I would be asleep right away, so that I wouldn’t mind the passing time. And the Lord provided the last bus, with more empty seats waiting to be filled up. Praise the Lord! I reached home by 9:30pm, awaking my mother to her surprise that I was home (I didn’t text them by the way that I would go home:)), and we began chit-chatting tersely. Then the night covered the night…hehehe

Sunday was a rest day indeed. My time with my family was a refreshing break from my ever-loaded routine in Baguio. Though I stayed only one night and 12 hours at home, I appreciate the ‘breathing’ the Lord gave that time. I have also put myself in contemplation whether by next year, I would move on serving and working here in the Urduja land. To wait is the answer, I believe.

I traveled back to Baguio late Sunday night. I was welcomed both by the misty bliss of Baguio and my board mates having their drinking spree. They’re having an interesting discourse over the statement: “In every answer, there’s a question, and vice-versa.” I thought before sleeping ahead, “at least, they’re talking philosophically and in quest of truth and answers.” †

Provisions in perfect timing

I praise the Lord in the nth power for his ever faithful character. He really rocks! I once again experienced His great provisions lately, proving time and again that He never fails in times of need (Psalm 46:1). Financially, I was having hard times budgeting my meager resources, but He meets my needs in perfect times. He has taught and is teaching me to give until it hurts, and by so doing, my understanding of His abundance and infinite vessels strengthens my relationship with Him. Since all things come from Him, He deserves everything, and all my giving is just a memento of my nothingness when Christ is absent. I praise the Lord for His glorious riches. †

Missing Moments

One year or so had passed since the five of us committed ourselves to stay in Baguio for volunteer work as campus ministers in the student world. It was a decision worth a million thought, a myriad pressing factor to consider.

We are fondly called by our young adings as the council of elders in an “exclusive varsity group” in UP Baguio. I am not really sure how and why they came up with such a tag, as we are just one or two years ahead of them. Anyhow, we just let the label sway them towards us, to build each other’s up. We know that whatever accolade we receive, we owe it to our predecessors’ righteous examples.

I want to call our group of two boys and three girls as Voltes V. I hope they permit me so. And I want to say I miss them.

We graduated last year. Three Voltes V members graduated with flying colors, the one got the highest honor in our batch. And I am proud of them.

I want to work in the best TV network in the country, or as a correspondent in PDI. The Manila girl just wants to become “famous.” The magna cum laude is happy to become a flight stewardess. Searching for her Mr. Right from Bataan is excited to work in a cruise ship abroad. I’m not sure what’s the dream of my generous roommate. I think he wants to become a family man. I remember, I promised him to become my bestman when I get married. I wonder my utterance’s seriousness, hehe.

We are the Voltes V. And we all decided to stay in Baguio until our committed time expires. We responded to the call to serve God, to reach out students for Christ, to be volunteer campus ministers.

Our dreams are not forgotten. Let’s just say that our dreams need to wait. Besides, dreams vary.

The volunteer “work” is the work that we used to enjoy during our college life. We share the Gospel to the students and we study the Bible with them. We dance and sing, we play Dutch blitz, pictionary, cluedo, pinoy henyo, we eat fish crackers and cinnamon, and we wake up at daybreak for morning prayer. We spend time together, and we don’t sleep sometimes.

What else? Oh, we cry together, as in the wailing type, because of shame, guilt, and one’s confession of sin. We cry gently when we ask forgiveness and when we are forgiven. We cry when we hurt someone and when we feel disappointed. We cry when we miss the Lord.

But we also laugh. We laugh when someone throws a joke. We laugh when someone mimics someone’s action and mannerism. We laugh when someone laughs.

We also keep quiet when the Lord laughs at our disaster. We shut our mouth when silence is the only solution to our problems. We listen. We sleep when we’re tired.

Those are few things we did during our college days, and that’s what we did and experienced for the past year (or half year for others), with our volunteer work.

The Voltes V has parted ways gradually. The first to leave the team in October last year has gone to China to work. But she’s back last June as instructor in UP Baguio. The Manila girl, who lasted her commitment in December, now works in an elite catering service. She’s on her way of becoming famous now.

The girl who’s searching for her Mr. Right moved on for good last March, as she waits in Bataan for her cruise ship work abroad. My roommate, after a year of working in a weekly newspaper, went home in Isabela to rest. He needs it most. He’s now teaching in a high school academy there. I plan to move on next year.

The Voltes V is no longer complete. The time when we cried and laughed together, the time when we rebuked and affirmed each other, have come to pass. The troubles that we’ve been through like the conflict of interest in matters of love and decisions have created a breach in our friendship. But it didn’t kill the friendship.

Our commitment to serve and live for the pleasure of God lives on. Though we’re now separated by distance, the ministry of caring to students through the sharing of God’s love continues in our own ways. Our friendship, anchored in God’s love, would be revisited. I believe.

When they come to read this, they would remember the Voltes V. They would remember everything we’ve been through as Voltes V. And maybe, tears would flow down because the “missing moment” pierces their heart. Nauna na akong lumuha...†

Lack of sense of purpose and focus

I was walking downrightly flabby the past weeks - walking without sense of purpose, and striding the way without focus. I was dealing on this toughly that I overtook the gentle, loving hands of God to guide and lead me in the right way. I ended up struggling with my very feet, gasping for help, and was hopelessly helpless at that.

I identified the problem, and the problem was deep inside me. I was looking for other satisfaction and love outside the destined will of the Lord, which I now face as consequence. (Details withheld, not so matter-of-life-and-death actually, but crucial when left unsettled). I really need help to rise up again as fiery, armored Christian soldier. The battle of life and ministry are awaiting for completion, and that would take a lifetime. I need a broken heart willing to be comforted, for my flesh persists to turn back at my old ways. I need a wrestling experience which I honestly feared of because I am a coward and I may not contain it. But I believe I need it, very badly.

I have confessed it to the Lord, and I wonder if I need more confession. Maybe I should confess more, to see more His forgiveness. Maybe I should pray more to see His holiness. Maybe I should seek Him more to see His face. And that’s what I long for, and intend to do. Join me please:) Thank you and be blessed:)

Persistent Mind of Mine

“A surrendered mind is not one which is no longer in operation. It is, rather, a mind freed from rebellion and opposition. To be Christ's captive is to be perfectly free.”
An e xcerpt from Surrender Every Thought by Elisabeth Elliot

This is one of my weaknesses in putting everything in God’s authority. My mind is always on rebellion and opposition especially when I become critical of certain things or events. I find it hard to submit especially when I think of things as irrelevant, unfit and unhealthy. Sometimes, it really goes beyond ignoring the request of older brethren, or worse, what the Lord wants me to do. I tend to be disobedient because I depend on my rational thinking, my value judgment of what is right or wrong, overshadowing the will of the Lord.

Acknowledging that a surrendered mind is a mind freed from rebellion and opposition, searching the attitude of my heart is a must. (Heart beats wisely than the impulse of the mind, I trust). I believe that if I know what makes God happy, and what He wants me to do, even if it seems uneasy, by all means I should obey. This is to blame my forgetfulness that the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength (1 Cor. 1:25).

He knows all the best, better than my concept of excellence. I just pray that my mind be always guarded from deceptive fantasies around. Dupe me not…†