[Blog] Love act

"Love thy neighbor." Sounds cliche right? I'm sure in your lifetime, you have heard this line at lease once but definitely, not never but what is it really to love our neighbor? How do we show that we love them?

When we see someone is in dire need, we stop and help. When we see someone rushing to the elevator with piles of stuff, we stop, hold the door for them and let them in. Sometimes, we go an extra mile and share the load they have on hand. If we see an old lady unsure whether to cross the street or not, we walk towards her and help her cross to the other side. When  a classmate is having a hard time understanding the lesson, we stop and lend a hand, same goes in the workplace. 

These are some of the many examples of showing love for our neighbors. You may not have an audience to applaud you as you do this but we got The One who sees everything (Hebrews 4:13). But are these for real? Don't get me wrong. If this is you, I admire you with such love in your heart but let me tell you that there are simple and little gestures that we can show love to our neighbor. 

When we wake up in the morning, we fix our bed. After taking a bath, we don't leave the bathroom cluttered with our stuff. When we go to the FX terminal or wait for the elevator, fall in line and wait for your turn. Greeting the security guard or the janitress a good morning. After chewing gum, we we don't leave it under the table or chair. When we're drying up our hands, we take one or two papertowels. When we're done with our shift, we clean our station and push the chair back where it was originally placed. Forgiving the person who hurt you the most. Apologizing for the hurt you caused someone. Returning the books you borrowed when done reading it. Sharing what you have even if that's the only thing left with you. No to vote buying. No littering. No smoking in an airconditioned room. 

You may think that I am derailing myself from my thought flow but I am not. Showing that you respect someone is an act of love. Showing that put the other person ahead of you is an act of love. Showing love through these two simple gestures is grand in my own opinion. Please do not confuse showmanship with this for, admit it or not, there are those who love to show off but God knows you and your motives in doing so (Psalm 139). And besides, God loves us so much that He sent His only Son (John 3:16) to pay for our sins, that's real love. When the sinless Son obeyed the Father to become sin and be hung on the cross, that is selfless love. I was then reminded of Jesus' command to love each other as He has loved us (John 15:12). If Jesus loves us for what we are, then we know how to really love our neighbor. 

Putting others first is something that we fail to commit in consistently doing because of our selfish nature but if we know that we are forgiven, accepted and loved unconditionally, our perspective will change. If we only look through the eyes of Jesus then I say that this is possible. After all, Jesus said "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31a) and we ourselves are the first ones to know how to value and love others as much as we value and love ourselves. Hard? Yes, it is true but with God's help, this is possible. We may think that one is like a sand paper to us but do keep in mind that we may also be one to another. Remember that Jesus also had encountered people as such in His time but He chose to love them no matter what. Amazing, yeah but that's how He moves - with love. 

Now, let me ask you this, how do you love?

[Poem] Simula

Maliksing kong binagtas, tinahak
Ang isang madilim na daan
Di alam kung saan pasulong
Mga paang hindi uurong.
Saan nga ba ang ating laban?
Tanong ko sa aming pamunuan
Tila di alam kung saan ito patutungo
Na para bang sunud-sunuran at uto-uto.
Sulong! Kapit-bisig!
Ang siyang sinisigaw ng aming bibig
Patakbong sinugod ang daang makitid
Na parang hindi nag-iisip ng matuwid.
Ano nga ba ang aming adhikain?
Ito ba'y maghahatid sa hapag ng pagkain?
Ano ba ito para sa akin
Na mismong buhay handang kitlin?
Maari bang tayo'y saglit na huminahon
At magmuni-muni sa takbo ng ating panahon?
May saysay ba ang ating sinisigaw
Na ang balik ay isa lamang na alingawngaw?
May katuturan ba ang ating ipinaglalaban
O sa lipuna'y isang malaking sagabal?
May patutunguhan ba ang usad-pagong na sistema
O magiging tila napag-iwanang sambayanan?
Palasyo ba'y sa matuwid ang patungo
O mananatili na lamang na huwad at moro-moro?
Iyan ang aking hamon
Sa kabataan ng ating panahon
Hinay-hinay lang mga katoto
Doon pa rin naman tayo ay patungo.
Huwag magligalig at magmadali
Namnamin ang ganda ng bawat sandali
Kung ang hanap ay tiyak na pagbabago
Bakit hindi mo kaya simulan sa sarili mo?
O Pag-asa kami'y Iyong ngitian
Araw na'y nagsabog ng liwanag sa kalangitan
Hudyat ng panibagong araw nga naman
Na puno ng magagandang aral ng kasalukyan.
Magbago ka, oo para sa iyo ito
Aking kausap kabataang ligaw, nalilito
Huwag kung saan-saan humanap ng pagkatuto
Tanging kay Ama lamang ito mapagtatanto.
Talikdan ang daang iyong tinatahak
Huwag nang hintaying puso mo'y mawarak
Pagkat Kanyang pangako'y tigib at totoo
Bakit pa aasa sa gintong tinanso?
Bangon kabataan, bangon
Huwag hayaang mapag-iwanan ng panahon
Ayan sa harapan mo ang daang matuwid
Bakit di mo kaya simulang tawirin?

-mmp 05october2012 1:30am

[Poem] Iyong Kaluguran

Nakahiga, nakahimlay,
Ang paa sa kama ay nakabayubay,
Tahimik, nag-iisip,
Hindi namalayang araw'y sumisilip.

Nagtatanong sa aking sarili,
Hanggang kailan dito ay mananatili,
Kung saan kay tigib ng kalungkutan,
Parang tila isang madilim na kawalan.

Bakit puso'y naninibugho
Sa kung anumang sa kapatid ay mayroon?
Bakit puso'y may suliranin
Na ito'y makamit at nang maangkin?

Bakit puso'y nagdurugo
Sa kanyang buhay na tila bulang-gugo?
Bakit puso'y naliliyo
Sa imbitasyong may rahiyo?

Saklolo, tulong, saklolo
Wala bang nakaririnig sa aking panaghoy?
Katawan na'y pagal, lalamunan kong tuyo
Sa pakikibaka sa sariling alimpuyo.

Sa aking kaibuturan tila may alingawngaw
Aking narinig, naulinigang kay linaw
Boses Mong akala'y isang hiraya
Tumatawag, nanghihikayat, nag-aanyaya.

Walang alinlangan ako'y sumunod,
Tumalima sa Iyo at nagpahinuhod,
Sa Iyong paanan ako'y umupong paluhod
Handang makinig, buong pusong may lugod.

Mahal kita, Iyong sambit
Mga mata'y nakatitig nang kay lagkit
Tila isang punyal sa aking kaibuturan
Iyong salita nanarak, nanahanan.

Sa aking pakiwari
Wala nang pag-asa sa tulad kong uri
Madilim kong nakaraan
Iyong sabi'y kalimutan.

Anak, ihinto iyong pagpalahaw
Ngayon ay hindi na ang dating ikaw
Magsaya, magdiwang sa iyong bagong buhay
Magandang kinabukasan sa iyo'y naghihintay.

Salamat sa Iyo Banal na Kamahalan
Dahil sa Iyo buhay ko ay may kahulugan
Sa Iyo, pag-asa at pag-ibig aking nasumpungan
Itatanghal, itataas sa mundo ang Iyong Ngalan.


- mmp 27september2012 02:36PM

[Poem] Ikaw lamang, AMA

Bawat pagsilay ng haring araw
Bawat paggising sa bagong umaga
Bawat ihip ng hangin sa aking mukha
Wangis Mo lamang ang nais matanaw.

Bawat tagumpay na aking tinatamasa
Bawat kaligayang aking nadarama
Kahit pa kirot ng isang pusong nasawi
Sa Iyo ko lamang nais ibahagi.

Bawat pangarap na inaasam
Bawat bukas na aking tinatanaw
Bawat katuparan ng aking ipinagdarasal
Ikaw lamang ang gantimpalang aking hinahangad.

Bawat pintig ng pusong sabik
Bawat ngiting hatid ng payapang dibdib
Ikaw lamang aking Ama
Ang tanging aking pupurihin.

- mmp 4sept2012 12:56am

[Poem] Untitled Measure

As day approaches its end
Dark hue covers the sky and blend
I looked up and gazed at it for a while
And savor at His majestic work then smiled. 

I walked passed a big street
Brisked walk and rushed striding feet
Heading home lingers in my head
When drops of rain start falling on my hand. 

O God let the rain stop from falling
While I still am hurrying my walking
Wind blew flipping hair on my face
As I head passed like rat in a race. 

I reached where I stopped and waited
A place where wheels are steady and naked
Under this heavy raining
Vulnerable to its soaking. 

The road was long and winding
Counting gushes one person is making
Heavy sighing heard like in a tube
As we await til we alight from this move. 

Seems like the clouds ain't yet over
From spilling so much rain, so much water
Will it ever stop from pouring
That worries everyone that's going. 

I prepped to go as the man made a turn
I sure am rain won't give me a burn
I prayed to God to hear my plea
To let me walk under the light of glee. 

I opened and slid the door
Hopped out and got my feet on the floor
Clouds still hasn't stopped from raining
So I leaped and headed home running. 

Surely, the night may seemed gloom
For the moon did not show its face from my room
But thank God for this priceless gift
For it made me sleep so quick, so swift. 

I praise the God who made the rain
I praise the God that had everything made
I praise the God who ends the day with night
To start another one under His light.

-mmp 18sept2012 10:00pm

[Poem] Liban sa Iyo

Sa mundong puno ng kahungkagan
Wari kong pag-asa'y kay layong masugpungan
Aking tinanaw ang malayong daan
Tila isang walang hanggang katapusan.


Hinanap kung saan-saan
Kaligayahang aking inaasam
Kahit anuman aki'y susunggaban
Mapunuan lamang aking kakulangan.


Kaliwa't kanan hinanap aking kaligayahan
Bisig ni adan akala'y matibay na sandalan
Inakalang marangyang buhay sa aki'y nakatunghay
Nang ang aking kastilyo'y biglang bumuway.


Gabi't araw walang patid na hinagpis
Yaring pusong nasaktan ng labis
Di ko nawari Siya sa aki'y nakaalalay
Habang buhay ko pala sa aki'y nakasubaybay.


Sa balangkas ng aking buhay
Siya sa aki'y umagapay
Na sa bawat hikbi ng pusong sawi
Kanyang tanging pagmamahal ang siyang pumawi.


Aking napagtanto
Walang katulad ang Iyong puso
Na liban sa Iyo
Wala nang ibang katulad na makakatagpo
Liban sa Iyo
Wala nang ibang masugid na manunuyo
Liban sa Iyo
Pag-ibig ay Ikaw at Iyo.


Tunay ngang ako'y mapalad
Dahil sa Iyong yakap ako'y napadpad
Iyong busilak na puso sa aki'y inihatag
Nang sa Iyo ang kamatayan ay nawalan ng tatag.


O Pag-ibig panahon ay nasa Iyong bisig
Kailanman Ikaw ang aking bukang-bibig
Ikaw lamang ang tanging aking aasahan
Sapagkat Iyong pagmamahal kailanma'y hindi mapaparam.

-mmp 25sept2012 02:00am

[Blog] How He loves us

"I will love you for the rest of our lives."
"I will be your knight in shining armor."
"I will be there for you through thick and thin."
"I will give you the moon and stars."
"I will never hurt you."
"I will be everything that you ask for."
"I wanna grow old with you."

Sounds familiar? I did hear some of it from people who promised everything that they are not. For years, I have been looking for someone who can complete me. Perhaps, I got hooked with Jerry McGuire's line - "you complete me." Sweet and super romantic but is there really someone out there who can complete you? I remember one time, I met a person years ago whom I easily gave my heart away. He's nice and I can say that he has the personality that I was looking for in a guy. I can say at that time, he completes me - PAST TENSE. He took my heart away with his suave moves and sweet words but that was just about it. Just months after, He just started dating my friend. It broke my heart to see that they are together yet denying of it. Come on! But this is in one corner of my head - drowned in the years that had passed.

Years after that, I have been to two more relationships that I should say did not feed my soul well. Instead, I have dwelt more in the darkness - right at the very core of darkness where I felt like a quicksand pulling me down where there is no escape from it. I decided on dating more like them but in my heart I pray for someone who really can fill this emptiness . I looked around and broke my heart again and again and again. Perhaps there really is no one who can satisfy my need of being loved. All I want is to be loved. Then came April 9, 2010 - the day where I was under the knife. Hours later, I opened my eyes and there was my mom talking to my doctor. It was my first time to be contained in one place where I couldn't go anywhere and mingle with people. I can say that I was a prison in that room for days. That night, I realized that there is one being so strong that I can't help but fight with because I knew I was strong. Came morning of April 10, all I had done was surrender my life to Him. There is no point in fighting because He is a lot better than I thought. His joy is my strength. He suddenly became my lover, my friend, my confidant, my dad, my God.

I fought a hard fight and all I can do is surrender. He is greater than everything in this world. His promises are true and timeless. He will be there with me wherever I go. He is the God that I want to have in my life.