What we do not have here ...

 

       


   Throughout life we were brought up to abhor, avoid, to even fear Death. When some one we know passes off we speak or think of his passing as something “bad”.

  MORE if that passing was ‘premature’ so to speak. 

And we wonder and try with our so human mind to understand why such unfortunate and cruel fortune could befall the prematurely dead. 

Should anyone “suffer” dying? Should dying be counted as 'suffering' ?

Are we able to fathom the Divine mind with an organ that is NOT divine? 

Is our human flesh and blood brain able to decipher what the DIVINE consciousness is about?

Is “dying”  bad? Most of us would answer with a resounding YES

BUT 'dying' to the Creator… may not at all be “BAD”. 

There is a reason and a purpose in all things our Creator has designed. Some truths we may work out. Most are beyond our “fleshy” comprehension. 

When the time comes for dying, what causes the “pain”, the “torment” and the “anguish” is the FINALITY of the event and the eternally  irreversible SEPARATION. 

That which we do not have here is ..... Eternal togetherness.       

When we are “Eternally together” as we will be when we arrive at the Eternal Home He has gone to prepare for us then what we do not have here will forever be ours. Then all our needs and desires will be fulfilled. Never will we ever be separated again from those we love!

  

And would that not be HEAVEN…?

THESE MORSELS OF PAIN ...

   SO OFTEN WE HEAR SERMONS, PREACHINGS ON THE SUFFERING, THE PAIN, THE HARDSHIPS AND THE DEPRIVATIONS. HOW THE SICK, THE UNWANTED, THE DEPRIVED AND UNDER-PRIVILEGED NEED US THE BLESSED CHOSEN ONES OF GOD, TO ASSIST, CARE AND SUCCOR, TO LESSEN THE PAIN, HEAL THE WOUNDS, PROVIDE BALM TO SOOTH THE HURTS. 

NOT LEAST, THE COMMISSION TO LIVE AND ACT AS CHRIST. TO GIVE ALL, ALL OUR LIVES, THAT THE LESS FORTUNATE, THE  ONES IN PAIN, IN MISERY, IN DARKNESS AND IN EARTHLY BONDED HELL, MAY HAVE THEIR LOAD LIGHTENED.

WE ARE CALLED DAILY ACROSS ALL CHRISTIANITY TO FREE THE PRISONERS, TO WALK THE LAME, TO HEAL THE SICK. TO DO AS CHRIST DID. 

IN THE AFTERMATH OF DISASTERS WHETHER NATURAL OR MAN MADE, WE HEAR SUCH CALLS, FROM OUR BELOVED LEADERS AND FROM OUR HEART.

WE TEND TO LOSE SIGHT OVER WHAT WE ARE CALLED FOR. 

IN THE FACE OF OVERWHELMING HUMAN SUFFERING IN EVERY FORM, WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE GRAND PLAN. 

IN OUR VALIANT THOUGH VAIN ATTEMPTS, AND THE CALL TO ACT OUT OUR CHRISTIANESS, WE LOSE TRACK OF THE DIRECTION.

WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE GREAT PURPOSE.

IT IS NOT ABOUT THE PAIN. 

NEITHER IS IT ABOUT INJUSTICE.

IT IS NOT ABOUT THE SENSELESS LOSS OF LIVES.

IT IS NOT ABOUT WHO ARE MARGINALISED.

IT IS NOT ABOUT THOSE DEPRIVED, THE UNBORN ABORTED.

NOT ABOUT HOW MANY WERE KILLED BY MAN OR NATURE.

NOT ABOUT THOSE ABUSED OR VICTIMISED.

NEITHER IS IT ABOUT THE SEEMING UNFAIRNESS.

NOR ABOUT THE UNWARRANTED CRUELTY TO MAN BY MAN.

IT IS NOT ABOUT ALL THE TREES, OR THE WOOD.

NOR THE SPECIES THAT WENT EXTINCT.

IT DEFINITELY IS NOT ABOUT MOST OF THE CONCERNS MAN HAD BEEN CONCERNED WITH.

IT IS ABOUT THE ENTIRE FOREST -THE WHOLE OF LIFE. 

IT IS ABOUT THE GRAND PLAN

IT IS ABOUT WHAT LIES BEYOND THE DARKNESS THAT SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE. 

DISMAY NOT AT THE IMPOSSIBILITY, THE ENORMITY AND INSURMOUNTABILITY OF THE TASK AT HAND. 

FOR HIS WILL TO BE, FOR HIS KINGDOM TO COME, THESE BAD STUFF, THE EXTREME UNPLEASENTNESS, THESE TORTUOUS EMOTIONS OF HEART RENDING SEVERITY, THESE BITTER GALL DAILY SERVED; THESE ARE NECESSARY.

FROM SUCH MORSELS OF PAIN, SUCH SLICES OF SUFFERING AND CRUMBS OF GRIEF WILL COME THE SWEET, EXOTIC SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT OF GRANDEUR WHEN THE MOMENT MATURES.

OUR TEAR-STAINED, BLOOD - ENCRUSTED, HEART-WRENCHED, BITTER, INSIGNIFICANT AND SEEMINGLY MEANINGLESS ATTEMPTS AT LIFTING THE INSURMOUNTABLE SUFFERING, GRIEF AND PAIN… WILL BE TURNED INTO UNCONTAINABLE JOY, CELEBRATION & REJOICING ETERNAL  AT THE GRAND BANQUET OF THE HEAVENLY FEAST WITH OUR KING.

YOU ARE INVITED.

Nice Sounding ...

  TRUE & COOKED-up
  Reasons for wanting to become :

Doctor:  I love humanity & I want to alleviate the suffering of people due to sickness and pain. I cannot bear to see unnecessary loss of lives and suffering. If I can help them why not?
What better way to alleviate suffering and pain? 
Doctor: I love the sight of money especially if my own. I cannot bear to see unnecessary loss of money-making opportunities. It sickens me. If I can help myself through the sick and suffering, why not? What better way to alleviate suffering and pain? Mine.

Lawyer: To uphold the justice system especially for those oppressed and marginalized. My passion to become a lawyer is to give people an opportunity of access to proper legal representation, so as to arrive at the truth.
Lawyer: Upholding the system especially my family’s financial system. We were oppressed and marginalized peasants. I am passionate about gaining access to equal or unequal opportunity; whatever the case may be; to arrive at my financial Peak.

Civil Engineer: My dream is to build and design infrastructures like dams, roads, expressways, bridges, & the like. The advancement in communication and logistics will enhance trade, commerce, and industries. At the same time with the utilization of cutting edge innovation in building technology I will ensure the preservation of a green environ. A win-win situation for everyone.
Civil Engineer: I have dreamed of nothing but to damn well build myself a road with expressed design to enhance my options in the engineering trade. By cutting off the greenhorns in the industry I'll be able to maintain an edge over all in the building industry thus ensure the preservation of my environ. A win-win situation for me.

Research Scientist: To acquire through diligent research, scientific breakthroughs in cutting edge technological processes so that mankind will benefit, thus indirectly improving quality, enjoyment and fulfillment of life for everyone in general.
Research Scientist:  To acquire by devious search, technological processes others have developed, thus benefitting directly and improving quality, enjoyment and fulfillment of my life.

Teacher: Knowledge is power and I want to bring light to those unschooled that they may be empowered to advance themselves, at the same time contribute to the welfare and prosperity of the community they live in.
Teacher: Knowing powerful but unschooled people will empower me to advance myself, at the same time contributing to my welfare, enabling  me to live in in prosperity of the gated community.

Orthodontist: Anyone who has cavities as well as toothache & gaping crooked teeth will appreciate an orthodontist. That is why to be an orthodontist will be especially uplifting.
Orthodontist: I have an aching appreciation to fully filling up my monetary cavities and straightening the gaps in my finances. That is why becoming an orthodontist will especially be uplifting for me.


Nurse: I am inspired by Florence Nightingale who selflessly cared for and comforted the sick with her sacrifice and concern, even going without rest or sleep throughout the night.
Nurse: I love and care for comfort. I feel sick at any sacrifice, and I love going without rest or sleep partying throughout the night. I love Florence (the city), its night-life inspires me.


Politician: To advance and uphold the rights of the citizens, to protect and ensure the prosperity, well being and integrity of my country, to serve and answer the call of patriotism.
Politician: To advance and hold on to my prosperity, to protect and ensure my financial integrity, the well being of my family’s accounts; to serve and answer the call of my hedonistic consumerism.

Priest: It gives me great distress to see those in the dark without much hope for spiritual nourishment & salvation. Without any means for guidance or help they wander lost and hopeless in spiritual deprivation. By becoming a priest it'll help me satisfy their spiritual hunger & thirst. They will find restful assurance when I help them place their trust in Him. My work will ensure their daily sustenance from our Lord. 
Priest: When lighting at home was disconnected, the darkness distresses me greatly. Without much education, or financial means I will be  in hopeless deprivation. By becoming a priest there is much assurance of my FREE daily nourishments fill my hunger, thirst & more. I need not wonder hopelessly anymore about my daily sustenance/comforts. Work?  It'll be assuredly restful.

Impossible to fake Truth

    

      The longer one dwells on the mystery of the Divine, the time will come when one will, like some boy staring hard and long into a murky pool,  start seeing things clearer, or start imagining non existent entities. Or one just gets tired and moves on.

    Is it so far out of reasonable conjecture, we humans having only limited mental faculties, to surmise that the entire Jesus Christ persona is more a concept than an actual flesh and blood, person? 

    Less a real life person who lived, walked, ate, did those miraculous acts so claimed and finally got killed on Calvary, to gloriously SAVE us lost, pathetic, denied-of-salvation Man?

   There is no cynicism intended, neither sarcasm, nor a lean toward atheism. And most definitely no intent to blaspheme.

   Just a wondering mind with an opinion.

  The concept of unselfish love, the so atypical idealism of  super-human sacrifice; the idealism of sharing not just what we do not want but what we treasure most with those we do not love. And the supreme ideal, the thought of which goes completely against our nature - the giving of one's life for others. All these character traits; that bode well for an ideal social, communal existence; these behavioral/self - denying characteristics that  will ensure the good of all future humans; are so alien to our normal human values. 

Could these fascination with the make-up of an Ideal Man/God find form and became personified/exemplified in a supernatural entity - Jesus Christ? 

Complete with angelic host proclaiming his earthly arrival, with the Star of Bethlehem? And over time, more attributes are evolved, developed and incorporated to flesh up the supernatural persona. Events are interpreted as miracles to lend credence to claims on Divinity, and were deftly woven into historical reality. The entire tale developed over the passing of time, embellished,  made perfect, and set down in written records from antiquity, to become utterly irrefutable? Coupled with many non- divine, human derived wisdom, the Book became one seeming divine tome.

The concept of a Divine being, who in a supreme act of Agape Love condescended  to the extremely unacceptable, despicable,  humiliating descent from on High, Divinity, to sink to the dark depth of sub-humans (us) who knew better yet unable to save ourselves because of our many undesirable self-annihilatory traits.

  

 Could all these be just our weak human longing for an ideal divine Being? One endowed with traits of Agape Love, with supernatural powers and in all other aspects superiorly a super human, to lend us poor weak humans a sense of purpose, divine support, and most of all to give hope to an otherwise meaningless existence?

Introspection would make one so conciuosly aware of how alien it is for any person other than a non living entity to possess traits Jesus did!

This  is NOT atheism, NOT cynicism. 

Call it whatever appropriate but should one attempt to describe the color of the rainbow to another who was never able to visually see, or to try describe a beautiful melody to one who never has hearing,  one  might get an idea of the shortcomings, the insurmountable difficulties, the utter impossibility of formulating a concept of the Christ persona, so ethereal,  so stretched over such a vastness of time, space, so completely vulnerable to contradictions to be able to even hint at factuality, that the only likelihood is -  IT IS THE TRUTH.

The harvest is plentiful but the HONEST workers few ....

                  

Though it seem "the harvest is plenty but the workers are few". (Luke 10: 2) there is actually an abundance of 'willing' workers. 

'Willing', with intent which they themselves are not aware of; or with ill-intent such as self enrichment, in monetary, power, self glory etc.

Many are attracted by glamor, free travel, excitement. Imagine going to foreign lands peopled by 'savages' to bring them The Word. To  bring Light to those in the darkness of Idolatry. 

Imagine the feeling of self empowerment, the ego boost, the 'fix' that would convulse the so-called missionary worker. 

There are many with reasons, & motives even they themselves are unaware of.

They think, believe, they are serving the Lord fully with contrite hearts and  with the right spirit, but contrary to what they think, believe; they have motives that are neither about service nor commitment to the building of our Lord's Kingdom. 

The photo we see here shows how this humble cobbler (? Philippines) very cleverly use a play of English to attract business. He is being clever, he is doing it to earn his living as a cobbler. He is simple AND thus HONEST.  He delivers what is said in his sign. 

The same though cannot be said for many who go forth to all corners of the world seemingly to bring the light of Christ. Thus it behoves one well should one intend to serve our Lord, that one does so with complete humility and humbleness in service to our Lord. No other considerations of self glory, monetary gains (especially), elevation of one's personal, social, or parochial stature, or other lesser motives should enter one's mind. 

Many believe they had been 'called' to the clergy. Like Samuel they thought or dreamed or hoped, they heard the Lord 'Call' them to serve Him!! 

Wow! I would gladly give an arm & both legs plus a kidney too, just to hear THAT CALL! 

For some who answered such calls, very sadly they are 'missed call'. Reasons they answered might include having most of their needs provided for by the Church and its parishioners. 

Simply put some are unable to get any other form of employment.

A free ride with benefits!

Even if one were to just provide simple clerical service or lead any Church groups, one should have the correct precepts about ones motivation to so serve.  It otherwise would bring discontent, disillusionment and worse; anger, resentment, bitterness and unbelief.

Only a fool will agree a good dose of Cynicism is unwarranted in evaluating ourselves before we become '(?) willing workers in the harvest'.

"Humans are good only when they are unable to do any more harm"

Irrefutably TRUE Statements

* For crying out loud, I really don't know what's to become of   

   you: Your mother.

* You have been fired : Your HR manager.

* Sorry Sir, your credit is no good : Cashier at fancy Diner..

* I am afraid you lost : Match official.

* Art is in the eye of the beholder : Optometrist.

* Your cheque was returned due to insufficient funds : Your      

   friendly neighborhood banker.

* DNA test results indicate the child, is biologically yours :  

   Court assigned Laboratory Assistant.

* You can run but you can't hide : Commander of Seal 6        

   Team to Osama at Abbottabad. 

* Pay up or else : Your friendly neighborhood Loan Shark's  

   Enforcer.

* Dinner is served : Cook.

* The road ahead is impassable due to heavy snow storm:  

   Road Sign.

* I hereby sentence you to 12 years in the State Penitentiary: 

  Judge.

* Please fasten seat belts, we expect turbulence ahead : Pilot.

* Cash only : Black marketeers.

* I am the Law. Resistance is futile: Judge Dredd.

* It'll end with a huge Blast: Your friendly neighborhood  

   Terrorist..

The REAL reason 'Why I'm the guy in BLACK' ...

                                     

A man once sang a very noble sounding song :

It went: 

                Well, you wonder why I always dress in black

Why you never see bright colors on my back,

And why does my appearance 

seem to have a somber tone.

Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor & the beaten down

Living in the hopeless side of town

I wear it for the sick & lonely old, 

for the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold.

And I wear it for the thousands who have died 

Believing the Lord was on their side

I wear the black in mournin' 

for the lives that could have been, 

Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

And he went on :

I wear it for the prisoner

who has long paid for his crime

but is there because he's a victim of his times

 And he added:

Well, there's things that never will be right I know 

And things need changin' everywhere you go

And there were many other noble reasons before he concluded with:

'But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back

"Till things are brighter 

HE VOWED 

I'm the man in Black"

It is undeniable that other than when BLACK is the color of skin  -  it IS  a really very attractive color.

In fashion and in everything else BLACK never seems to go out  of style. 

However, noble, romantic and idealistic reasons aside: 

ONE of the many reasons I wear black is actually 

..... BLACK hides dirt from showing up :)

And BLACK clothes stay 'clean' looking longer, cuts down laundry bills.

And as an extra plus, 'BLACK' carries the added glamor of all the above noble reasons !

That's why I too will mostly dress in BLACK  ----- 

And 'til a 'DIRTIER' color comes along

 I too am the guy in BLACK

Johnny Cash - The Man in Black

If the Mountain won't come to you ...

          

       What would you do if the Mountain won’t come to you? 

Will you like Mohammad go to the Mountain? Or like most everybody else, would you tell the Mountain He can go “F” Himself and then carry on doing what you have been doing.

    

       Guess in most relationships there is a natural tendency to NOT make the first move. Waiting for the other to initiate the first act is and has always been the usual characteristics of people. For whatever its worth we will always not want to seem too eager or interested to renew, or start any relationship, be it with long lost friends and or families. Even with the simple and so convenient E-mailing we have at our convenience, we are rather hesitant to go to our friends and relatives. 

    

       You may call it a reluctance to intrude into somebody else’s status quo. I would call it plain disinterest to reacquaint. I would even call it a false arrogance of misplaced egotism.

If a person were a friend in the true spirit of friendship it IS ridiculous to wait for the other.

In other words, it is plain unfriendly to wait for the Mountain to come to you. 

     In certain cultures, elder clansmen generally do not condescend (note - "descend") to initiate contact with lower ranked clan persons.

Similarly in many uniformed groups as well as corporations, institutions etc. it is a norm the high-ups seldom if at all 'slum' with the rank & file.

Sadly we have this inherent sense of heightened self-worth which makes us reluctant to stoop, to even be perceived as having lowered our self (over) esteem especially by making the first move to those 'less worthy' beings.

           In the same line of thought, should the Maker of all these that we have here; everything that makes Life itself possible and good, were to take the same high ground and standing on protocol (or whatever you like to call it), refuses to initiate contact, we would still be unsaved, unloved and unredeemed.   

  

      Christ would not have come. (some indeed believe the Savior has still not come).

Thus if the Mountain won’t come to you, I urge you, please ...... Go to the Mountain! 

You lose nothing.