Man’s Ultimate

Singapore, Aug 20, 2007

Practicing Christian beliefs results to a variety of response, it could be difficult to some while to others it would be just a simple feat. And yet to many of us, a life of a Christian can not be less than exciting. For we serve a God which is so creative, the ways in which He reveals Himself to His followers is constant yet it always strikes our heart in ways which meets our different needs.

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote these words in one of his songs “the blinding light of grace come breaking through with sweetness”1. Yes, if there is one word that could describe the greatest love given to us is simply that – sweet.

Yesterday, at the Royal Hotel, God’s word was at work again. Sharper than any double edged sword, it has once again penetrated to the dividing soul and spirit. With its triumphant banner of truth it continues to reveal Jesus who is always excited about anything that pertains to us. The great outpouring of His blessing comes in many different ways. Most of them unnoticed, most of them we have not even thanked Him for.

“You will be blessed from Zion”2, the pastor concludes in this simple yet striking truth, especially to a Filipino. One of Man’s ultimate is to be connected to his land.

Scattered among many foreign soils, we can be reluctant when it comes to this topic. Maybe if I would be an American, or European or Australian, there would be so much connection between me and my country. But a Filipino? Well good luck. With all the dirt and corruption that eats the system, from disorganized bus routes to air pollution, creative theft (piracy, selling sub standard products, unhealthy foods) dreams are for sale, education is not a learning institution anymore, respect for authority is dependent on whose side the authority is and the intellectual atrocity penetrating the government is so casual, as casual as the poor children sniffing rugby in front of Quiapo Church.

Shattering! I can not hide my tears while writing this blog. But as I remember the good pastor talking about nationalism, I scrambled for the floor looking for dignity which shame has stepped over. I can not even raise my hands on the question of “do you still love our country” I tried to hide from the noise of my past, I tried to huddle with the fact that I am already in Singapore and a good life awaits me here. I tried everything but to no avail. As if the words from the pastor are not good enough, I was slammed right in the face when he says, “You can be anything you want to be, change your citizen, outgrow your nationality but one thing remains, you were born a Filipino and you will die one”

Death, the familiar antagonist of hope, the curious audience of defeat and the surest thing on earth. Yes, in death I will still be a Filipino, so why pretend to paste a different flag on my tombstone. It will not work. It certainly won’t.

The church service have long ended, I have already done errands for a work that I am applying to, I have already browsed almost a hundred web page this day. But the Word of God shared by Rev. Rey Navarro has substantiated once again that His word judges the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart.3

The Philippines may be in its prime of emotional chaos, but it’s far from my ability to add any change to this by posing rants and rage over the self-defeat that our countrymen are constantly holding in their hearts. But to those of us who are given the chance to work overseas, who are living an easier life must not leave this one special matter over the closed doors of our minds. Back at home we have our fathers, our mothers, our children, our brothers and sisters. And let us make sure that they would not seclude into defeat, that they would not lose hope on our beloved country. One small step from where we are standing now would matter, for it would mean a gigantic leap of faith, a model of hope for them to see that indeed, they will be blessed from Zion all the days of their life.

Notes:
1. Steven Curtis Chapman, Angel’s Wish, All Things New, 2004
2. Psalm 128: 5
3. Hebrews 4:12