Prayer Time - Prime time

I too am guilty of being busy..sometimes too busy to pray. Prayer should always be our everyday commitment.

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 MOMENTS:Prayer Time by Fr. Jerry Orbos

In today’s Gospel (Mk. 1, 29-39) we learn Jesus’ secret refuge:  “Rising very early before dawn, He left and went off to a deserted place, where He prayed.”  In the thick of grinding sparks and flashbulbs, Jesus did not miss candle glow moments with His Father. He knew how to retreat, recharge and renew in prayer.

* * *

Someone once said that Satan cannot make you sin, he will just make you very busy until you can no longer pray, and that, for him, is already a victory. Our biggest downfall is when we no longer take time nor make time to pray because we are too busy. Prayer time is prime time!

* * *

Jesus’ whole life was a constant letting go and letting God. He did not, so to say, sit on His laurel’s, nor did He bask in His fame and popularity. He moved on to other villages to do His mission.  And He moved out from the crowd and even from His disciples when it was time for Him to commune with His Father in prayer. Without prayer, we begin to move out from our true center.  Prayer makes us focused, brings us back to what is basic, and removes from us illusions and delusions.

* * *

Every night, many of us charge our cell phone batteries before we sleep.  If only we were as steadfast and conscientious in charging ourselves in prayer at the day’s end!  Also, many of us are so religious in taking our morning coffee and in getting our morning updates from the newspaper, radio or TV.  If only we were as religious in spending some time for prayer and meditation at the day’s beginning!

* * On a personal note, I always begin and end my day with prayer. The first moments after I wake up are spent on my knees in prayer. The last moments before I sleep are also spent on my knees in prayer. When we kneel, we know who we are, and we know who God is. When we bend our knees, everything falls into place.

* * *

Let me share with you my favorite prayer:  “Jesus, I trust in you. Mama Mary, I love you!”  Say this prayer with so much trust and with so much love, and you will experience peace.  It is such a simple, but an assuring prayer.

* * *

Rurick Santos, brother Fr. RJ Santos, SVD, our Filipino missionary working in Japan, texted me last Jan. 30, 2012, how he whispered the prayer “Jesus, I trust in you. Mama Mary, I love you” into the ears of his brother Regnault who was unconscious due to multiple stroke and heart attack.  He held his hand and just kept repeating the prayer. Lo and behold, the next day, Regnault was conscious. He was even singing.  And he will be discharged from the hospital this week.  Yes, prayer is powerful!

* * *

When I was younger, I thought I could “fix” things, and get things done with sheer wisdom or hard work.  Older now, and hopefully wiser, I know that there are a lot of things I can’t fix, so I just say to the Lord: “Help! I can’t fix it.  Please fix it for me. Amen.”

* * *

February 11 is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  It is also the World Day for the Sick.  We express our solidarity, and we offer our prayer for those who need physical, emotional and even spiritual healing. We pray also for those who are involved in the care and support of the physically, emotionally and spiritually sick.

* * *

Those who go through any form of sickness or illness experience God in a very real way.  Moments of sickness are moments of tremendous grace. Yes, in everything that happens in our lives, there is a reason.  And there is a mission.*

“My suffering is my offering.”  May those who go through any form of suffering find meaning and comfort in the thought that they can suffer vicariously for others, i.e., their sufferings can become a source of tremendous blessings for others.

* * *

Remember the cartoon character Popeye?  Remember how he becomes strong whenever he eats his spinach?  Remember his song?  “I’m strong to the finish, ‘cause I eat my spinach, I’m Popeye the sailor man!”  Let Popeye remind us that we need prayer to keep us strong, and we can defeat whatever “Brutus” that comes our way if we know how to pray.

* * *

Please be reminded that when you get too busy and it seems that everyone is looking for you, don’t forget that the Lord is also looking for you!  Something is wrong, something will go wrong if you become too busy and you put God on the side and at the periphery.

* * *

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, remind me to make prayer time prime time of my life.  Amen.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/22423/prayer-time

STRANGERS - Ulan, Salamat at dinalaw mo kami

Quezon Ave -- Habang ako ay nag aabang ng FX na masasakyan papuntang SM North, nagsimula ang patak patak na ulan...

Ang mga taong-kalye natutulog sa isang abandonadong gusali ay masayang ginising ng ulan

Tinawag nya ang iba pa nyang kaibigan sa kabilang stall, 

....sa nakapark na kariton

....sa mga nanglilimos sa daan

....mga nakaabang

....at mga anak na nagsisimula ng magtanggal ng damit upang maligo sa ulan.

Masaya silang pumagitna sa kalye, pasayaw sayaw at napapasigaw sa ulan.

Pakanta kanta habang nagsasabon ng sarili, nagbabanlaw sa daan.

Di alintana ang mga jeepney, malalaking bus at iba pang sasakyang matulin.

Oo nga naman, anu ang dapat ikatakot...anak sila at ina nila ang kalye.

At tiwala silang walang sinumang naghahangad na sila'y sagasaan.

Andito ako, sa isang tabi at nakikisilong..

kasama ng iba pang nag aabang, naaaliw na lamang sa aming napagmamasdan.

Maya maya pa, si ate..naglabas na ng pansahod 

at nagsimulang magkusot ng mga dapat labhan.

Sinasamantala ang dami ng tubig dulot ng malakas na buhos ng ulan.

Narinig ko ang aking katabi, 

"Anu ba yan, lakas na naman ang ulan..baha na naman

,basang basa na tayo dito. wala pa rin tayong masakyan."

Napangiti ako kasi halos kalahating oras na nga ang paghihintay ko,

Di ko magawang magreklamo, dahil natuon naman ang pansin ko,

sa mga taong masaya sa tanaw ko.

Bumulong ulit ang aking katabi, "hay,kawawa naman sila anu?"

Tahimik ulit akong sumagot ng ngiti,

Mas naaawa ako sa aming mga sarili kasi di magawang maglaro sa kalye,

at magpakabasa sa ulan.gaya ng ginagawa nila.

dahil siguro...tanggap nila ang kanilang kapalaran.

At sa ilang linggo ko ng pag aabang dito, di ko ni minsan narinig at kanilang ipinabatid na

"Ale, kaawaan mo kami."

At mapalad silang di kinakaawaan ang kalagayan nila.

Bagkos pinapahalagahan ang bawat biyaya

Kahit konting limos....

Kahit ang malakas na buhos ng ulan, bagyo na nga sa iilan.

Mapapalad ang mga taong, sa unos nagpapakabasa.  

Di nawawalan ng pag-asa.

Sa Diyos nagtitiwala.

Naghihintay ng pagpapala.

Unos man ay may nakaakibat na biyaya.

=)

STRANGERS on a TAXI RIDE

This week is our CG's Stranger Series... 

I would like to share to you series of experiences, reflections, learnings I had with Strangers...

1st, Let me share to you a short story about judging others and judging strangers

This happened two years ago when I was on my way to the airport going Iloilo for my grandmother's funeral.

Since I travel often, I could estimate the time I need to travel from office to the airport, traffic included. My goal is not to be too early, but not late...just be on the perfect time for my flight. Because, I hate waiting sitting,sleeping at the airport for an hour or so, especially during a working day unproductive.

I still finished one lab analysis before leaving for the airport. It was 3:00pm when I time out, my scheduled flight is 5:30pm Philippine Airlines.  Kuya Ruel, my officemate offered to get a taxi for me straight to NAIA terminal 2. But I replied, "No. Its best to ride the MRT. Get a taxi at Taft Station, or even ride a bus from there. Twenty (20) minutes MRT ride and 10-15 minutes on my way to the airport " since the trip was also unexpected and out of budget.

 I had a jeepney ride going MRT- North Station. I arrived at the station almost 3:30pm (traffic at North Ave. waiting time included). Alas, the lady guard holding a megaphone announces that MRT TEMPORARILY CLOSED.  I couldnt believe it and I'm in a rush! EDSA is so crowded, it would take  at least one and a half hour to get Taft. I had no choice but to ride a taxi. And everyone was rushing toward a taxi. And worse, it started to rain. 

On the shed, a batch of guys...in their teens are waiting for taxi also. I felt uncomfortable towards them because based on their appearance, parang mga adik, out of school youth, mga loko loko. REALLY NOT TRUSTWORTHY. Pero ilang taxi na ang dumaan, No taxi driver would agree to a P300 airport ride, they want P400 up, and they said the traffic could go worse. I might miss my flight. Oh my, what an unfortunate event!

They hailed a taxi and said that they're heading Guadalupe area.  I gathered up my courage, left my pride and asked if I could share a taxi with them. They agreed. I talked to the taxi driver, im in a hurry. He was kind enough and looked for ways to avoid traffic or at least find a less traffic area. Oh, they cared for me but I feel I still couldn't trust them. 

 I left aside my 'what ifs' prayed silently and started humming...

 'God Will make a way...when there seems to be no way....

He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me' 

and started trusting through that song. 

As I have learned from Bro. Bo's talk about the power of Words, I transmitted to each of my companion, 'Mabuti kang tao (you're a good person.)' till I felt peace and started to join their conversation. I even slept along the way because of the traffic. I woke up, we are almost at Guadalupe area. The driver dropped them off, they paid and even told the driver to send me off safely to the airport and hoped I make it still on time.  I thanked them and whispered words of blessings for them in my heart. 

The driver told me on the way to the airport, 'Ma'am, di ba kayo natakot? Mukhang mga loko mga yun a. At mabuti din, di kayo pinagbayad. Ang swerte nyo.' I smiled and told him, ' Malakas kasi ako kay Lord, I know He will make a way. At saka, basta maniwala ka na mabuti silang tao. Mabuti talaga sila.'  Recalling the insights from Bro. Bo about "What you focuses on, GROWS. If you focus on the goodness of a person, it shows. If you focus on how bad he/she is, he/she surely is based on perspective." 

I also learned  through their conversation that the guys are actually on their way to their training school. 

 I arrived 5:00pm at the airport. The taxi meter read, P120.  I gave the driver, P200 and my supposed to be simple pasalubong for my family. Knowing that it was not even enough to show him how grateful I was for his kindness. The airport staff greeted me and told me not to worry, they know about the traffic situation and the flight was delayed due to heavy rainfall in Iloilo. 

While waiting, I recounted the experience and the many blessings I had on my way to the airport. I felt ashamed of my thoughts on how I judged them based on their appearances. There's an old saying that goes. 'Don't judge the book, by its cover'

Not all strangers are bad. If they are, at least not totally. I learned from the experience to think of good thoughts and blessings for a stranger when tempted to judge them or thinking about negative thoughts. Of course, never make them uncomfortable through our actions and thoughts. Who knows, they are actually good samaritan of modern times. =)

Staring on a starry night...

Just after I arrived home, turned on the lights,toss my bag on my bed....

My complicated window invites me for a view of a city at night...

Its been days since I have a chance to enjoy the view of a starry night. 

Starry skies always brought me serenity....

The warm atmosphere of the room, the cool breeze of air outside..

Transport me back to my Miami (Miag ao, Iloilo) days, on the shores of Barangay Sapa...

 Lying on the sand....

painting pictures on the sky...

sleeping under the care of the moon and stars...

The sound of waves as my lullaby...

Sharing stories with friends and trying to catch as much falling stars for wishes...

Oh how i love those nights...

Oh God, thank you for the stars as it humbly whispered...

 "don't worry, while sister Sun's rays is out for the night.

Look up, We are glitters on your dark sky.

In peace. yes, we'll stay for the night.

Till the light of the dawn wakes your horizon.

Smile and keep your hopes high..."

 :)