IL FINE

 Gospel | Luke 21:5-19

Why does it matter when the end of the world will be? Only if it is in our lifetime will it impinge on our choices, but that is unlikely. However, this does not mean we can ignore the need to prepare for the Lord’s coming. Unless He comes before we die, it is our death that becomes a point of no return for us. After we die, there is no more opportunity for repentance and conversion—we have run our race and the results are in.

Reflect:

“Be ready, servant of Christ, for your Master comes suddenly, when an ungodly world least expects Him.” (Charles Spurgeon)

The end in Italian is “fine.” pronounced as /’fi:ne/. Fine has two senses. It can be either la fine or il fine. La fine is the end, in the sense of the end of the line, the edge of a table, the moment in which something ends, the conclusion of an experience. Il fine is likewise the end, but one that refers to the final phase of something, a period or range in time, or, most of all, in the sense of an aim, a target, a goal or purpose.

When we look at the end of our sufferings, or our life for that matter, it is not a mere la fine but il fine, for we look not at the end of a chronological duration. We look at it as il fine, for we see the purpose of it all. We see redemption. We see Jesus.

-Joel Camaya

DONT FIND HAPPINESS FIND PURPOSE

 Here are some lessons we can take from the inspiring story of Pastor Jasper Ivan Iturriaga :

1. "If the law of God feels like prison, sometimes sin feels like freedom. But I realized growing up that when you love God, duty becomes a delight and sacrifice is a pleasure."

2. "There's this author, one of my favourite authors said, 'Grace is an attribute given to undeserving human beings. We do not seek for grace, but grace was sent in search for us.'"

3. "The enemy of best is good. Sometimes the devil gives you good things so you avoid the best things in life."

4. "I realized peace is not a geographical location. It's not a place. Peace is doing what God wants you to do."

5. "If you're confused with your calling, just ask yourself a question. Ask yourself what breaks your heart, because usually what breaks your heart is what God has called you to do."

6. "I think we're always waiting for a time where if it's comfortable, but if God called you to do something and if you wait for the most convenient time, the most convenient time will never come. You just have to do it."

7. "Don't find happiness. Find purpose."

8. "I realized that instead of cursing the darkness, we should light the candle. And I want to empower young people - your talent, you can use it to better the community around you."

9. "There will come a time in your life or you will reach a certain point in your life where you will question everything that you know, everything that was taught to you, everything that you're influenced with. Is this really me? Or is it just because these information were passed on to me? And then you will find out the truth for yourself."

MY ROLE IN EVERYBODYS BOOK

 Maybe for now, this is my role in everybody's book. 

I am a lonely waiting shed in the middle of the rain. A temporary refuge for people who are cold, tired, and drenched from the tears of heaven. Waiting for people who forgot to bring their umbrellas and their clear intentions, who lost their hearts and motivation to love again, and people who are hiding from thunders and running away from the traumas of their past.

I always watch people wait for the drops to stop, give them courage, then watch them go. 

Sometimes, I am an old convenient store in the heart of the city. Open for everyone—24 hours. The doors are closed but they are never locked. Ready to listen about their love stories and their heartbreaks until midnight. I always welcome people even at 2am. A place for people who are drunk, lost, and wanted to forget about life. 

People get the things they want and need from me, stay a little while, then leave. 

But mostly, I am a public parking lot. People are rushing to take their spot in my life, leave their bagages and then prcoceed to their true desitination. I am your weekend vacation, the movie theather, the detour, the holiday, the empty hallways, the crowded places, and the most solace chruches. I've been living in everybody's stories, portraying my character in their plot, and waiting for their happy ever after to happen. I play the role very well-that sometimes I forgot I have my own book written for me.

Maybe someday when love finally finds its way to me, I’ll recognize its face and speak its language. But for now, I’ll be the narrator in everyone’s book—proclaiming the love they deserve, witnessing its million mysterious ways, and assuring them that the endings are always worth the plot twists.

words and photo by: Earl J Bulao

AYOS LANG MAANTALA AT MAHULI

 Minsan, ayos lang din ang maantala at mahuli.

Hindi naman paunahan ang buhay at hindi rin naman kailangang magmadali.

Ang mahalaga ay kung paano ka nabuhay sa bawat sandali—

Kung paano mo paulit-ulit na pinili ang magpatuloy para sa iba at para sa'yong sarili.

Magkakaiba naman ang landas na tinatahak ng bawat tao.

Kung kaya't hindi kailangang ikumpara ang sa'yo.

Sa mundong ito, walang malas o swerte—

Lahat ay bunga ng pagsusumikap at pagpupursige.

Sige lang, kahit dahan-dahan.

Pahalagahan lahat ng mga pinagdaanan—

Sigurado man o hindi, usad lang.

Makarararating din naman sa paroroonan.

Ayos lang maantala at mahuli,

Basta't magpatuloy pa rin kahit hindi madali.

Wala namang imposible—

Sa taong may puso na pursigidong magwagi.

KAPE

 Dati nagtataka ako kung bakit gustong-gusto ni tatay ng kape. Bago umalis patungong trabaho, magkakape. Pag-uwi galing trabaho magkakape. Pagod, timpla ng kape. Masaya, lasing, galit, normal na araw, kape pa rin.

Nung tinikman ko naman 'yung kape sinikmura lang ako.

Pero nagbago ang tingin ko sa kape noong nagsimula na akong magpuyat sa mga pangarap para sa aking pamilya at sarili.

Hindi pala 'yung kape ang nakaka-addict. Yung pakiramdam pala.

Hindi lang kasi siya basta likido na may matamis at mapait na lasa. Isa siyang pahinga. Bawat higop ng kape, oras mo iyon para sa iyong sarili. Bawat segundo na dumaraan habang hawak ang baso, iyon pala ang espasyo para maisip mo kung ano ang sunod na plano. Sunod na hakbang patungo sa pangarap mong maging ikaw.

Habang tumatanda ako, mas nagugustuhan ko ang kape. Ganoon marahil kapag kailangan mo ng saglit na pahinga sa nakapapagod na mundo.

Tara, kape tayo. ☕

By: Venus Religioso