A few days ago, i saw another classic example that will inspire me to keep on looking for the good in every person i met. Yes, someone sent me a powerpoint presentation of how the earthquake in China have devastated a lot of properties amounting to billions in infrastructure and material equipments.
The dead and wounded abound and caused a lot of grief. But that terrible disaster, as huge as its damages, did not manage to devastate the goodness of the Chinese people. While reading and seeing through the pictures my tears begun to drop so that i chose not finish the whole presentation for fear of having my new officemates see me cry. However, I did see enough to say that people can always choose to be good despite and maybe because of disaster.
A lot of things where scattered around the affected areas, and yet, as reported, there were no incidents of looting. The Chinese people chose to be kind and helpful during the times when they themselves need help. Volunteers run to the affected areas and blood donations flooded without much prodding.
Stories of this sort strengthened my resolve to view all people as innately good. Thus considering them trustworthy first and foremost--unless to they will prove to be otherwise--is still the best i can do.
Yeah, evil abound in the world, and i will get hurt and wounded most often than not... but i'd rather get hurt knowing that in my dealings with people i have come to them with a pure heart... no preconceived notions and biases... and no hidden agendas.
This way i am sure that everyone started on equal footing, regardless of appearances. If somebody chooses to hurt me whether maliciously or out of circumstance, then so be it. After all, i always believe that justice will be served... in whichever way that we most need to learn.
Cliche as it sound but i'd rather err on the side of compassion and enjoy the company of people than keep myself safe inside the walls of mistrust that will shield me from experiencing deeply the goodness of others.
With me, people always start on the notion that they are dignified and trustworthy beings. In my book love should always be free flowing, like the coffee and water that we included in the menu package for our training next week.
GoldenSeeker
Friday, May 30, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Friendster!
Kalain nimo oy.
Imong gdelete ang akong friendster.
Wala man kay clear.
Wala man unta ko nakasala.
Pero nganong ikaw ingon ana.
Ay ambot, mavuang ko bayot!
Imong gdelete ang akong friendster.
Wala man kay clear.
Wala man unta ko nakasala.
Pero nganong ikaw ingon ana.
Ay ambot, mavuang ko bayot!
Pray--er
I never am a religious type of person. I don't go to church regularly. I pray yes, usually everyday. But praying with other people, that's something i really am not good at. I
I can still remember when i was still a child... around 8 or 9 years old. I used to pray before going to bed. I pray in front of our altar, kneeling down. One time, i went home late after watching a variety show during one of our fiesta-related nightly entertainment. So after closing the door, i readily do my usual prayer ritual in front of the altar. I kneel down and utter a silent prayer. Halfway through my prayers, i heard my sister say laughingly, "hey what are you doing there?" I don't understand, but right that moment i felt my hair stand and my blood rushed to my face because of embarrasment. Because the lampara then only gives a very dim light, i failed to see my sister who is sleeping right below the altar. Ever since that night, i never am really comfortable making the sign of the cross in public.
That incident was further reenforced, not so long after that incident, when i came across a Bible passage talking about praying in the silence of one's own room and shying away from being like those hypocrites who prays inside synagogues so that others may appreciate what they do.
Since then i always prefer to have my prayers at the privacy of my thoughts. It even went to the extreme of me feeling ashamed if somebody sees me make the sign of the cross inside the church. Quite sick right? We'll I really can't help if the hairs on my nape and arms would stand everytime i felt someone looking at me while i made the sign of the cross. I always reacted that way, until one time i have consciously return to that one night incident via a simple chitchat with a teacher friend.
Slowly, after that chat i again started to feel normally when doing my sign of the cross in public. However, even after the conscious realization of the cause of that not so normal reaction, i always shied away from leading a prayer. No one really can forced me to lead even a simple prayer of thanksgiving before eating. Even in the classroom, i can always find reason not to lead the prayer before the class started. I do pray, but never aloud.
But things happen. Without us even realizing it, the right time and moment will come and you are forced to face your fears. I never thought the day would come that i would lead a prayer with other people in attendance. And what a time it is. My first prayer was made with a corporate CEO.
We'll, God really knows how to give you a nice moment. Making sure that your first try--after a long time--of uttering His name in public will surely be well attended.
I can still remember when i was still a child... around 8 or 9 years old. I used to pray before going to bed. I pray in front of our altar, kneeling down. One time, i went home late after watching a variety show during one of our fiesta-related nightly entertainment. So after closing the door, i readily do my usual prayer ritual in front of the altar. I kneel down and utter a silent prayer. Halfway through my prayers, i heard my sister say laughingly, "hey what are you doing there?" I don't understand, but right that moment i felt my hair stand and my blood rushed to my face because of embarrasment. Because the lampara then only gives a very dim light, i failed to see my sister who is sleeping right below the altar. Ever since that night, i never am really comfortable making the sign of the cross in public.
That incident was further reenforced, not so long after that incident, when i came across a Bible passage talking about praying in the silence of one's own room and shying away from being like those hypocrites who prays inside synagogues so that others may appreciate what they do.
Since then i always prefer to have my prayers at the privacy of my thoughts. It even went to the extreme of me feeling ashamed if somebody sees me make the sign of the cross inside the church. Quite sick right? We'll I really can't help if the hairs on my nape and arms would stand everytime i felt someone looking at me while i made the sign of the cross. I always reacted that way, until one time i have consciously return to that one night incident via a simple chitchat with a teacher friend.
Slowly, after that chat i again started to feel normally when doing my sign of the cross in public. However, even after the conscious realization of the cause of that not so normal reaction, i always shied away from leading a prayer. No one really can forced me to lead even a simple prayer of thanksgiving before eating. Even in the classroom, i can always find reason not to lead the prayer before the class started. I do pray, but never aloud.
But things happen. Without us even realizing it, the right time and moment will come and you are forced to face your fears. I never thought the day would come that i would lead a prayer with other people in attendance. And what a time it is. My first prayer was made with a corporate CEO.
We'll, God really knows how to give you a nice moment. Making sure that your first try--after a long time--of uttering His name in public will surely be well attended.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Ahhhhh People.
Right now i dont know what to think.
A lot of things are running into my head and my chest felt like bursting, like somethings been inside it that just needed to be aired out. The problem is my thoughts are in jumble.
Once a teacher had said to me that "people are just people, behaving in a manner they are made to behave." But who and what made us behave like we do? Isn't it us that have the exlusive responsibility of our actions? So why blame it on someone or something?
And why do people behave the way they do?
I always believe in the goodness of every human being. As a rule, people are good unless they've proven otherwise. I also remembered a friend cautions me into readily trusting people. For him, people are bad and cannot be trusted unless they have proven to him their trustworthiness.
A huge contradiction, eh?
But that's how people are. Some are so trusting that they are usually being just taken for a ride by the malicious few who just feels right into taking advantage of thier trusting nature. But this kind of people though frequently hurt, have a lot more chance at becoming happy with a lot of people than those who shelter themselves from others.
But who am i to be judge and jury of how other people conduct their life. If they choose to be weary of strangers and be safe then it's really up to them. Their happiness depends on doing what they think is right and what is comfortable for them and not on my over simplistic if a bit idealistic views.
In the same way, i will continue to believe that people are innately good. If some will not come as noble as i think, then i will be hurt, yes. But at least, i have let other people start with all the trust and respect that is due to every human being.
A lot of things are running into my head and my chest felt like bursting, like somethings been inside it that just needed to be aired out. The problem is my thoughts are in jumble.
Once a teacher had said to me that "people are just people, behaving in a manner they are made to behave." But who and what made us behave like we do? Isn't it us that have the exlusive responsibility of our actions? So why blame it on someone or something?
And why do people behave the way they do?
I always believe in the goodness of every human being. As a rule, people are good unless they've proven otherwise. I also remembered a friend cautions me into readily trusting people. For him, people are bad and cannot be trusted unless they have proven to him their trustworthiness.
A huge contradiction, eh?
But that's how people are. Some are so trusting that they are usually being just taken for a ride by the malicious few who just feels right into taking advantage of thier trusting nature. But this kind of people though frequently hurt, have a lot more chance at becoming happy with a lot of people than those who shelter themselves from others.
But who am i to be judge and jury of how other people conduct their life. If they choose to be weary of strangers and be safe then it's really up to them. Their happiness depends on doing what they think is right and what is comfortable for them and not on my over simplistic if a bit idealistic views.
In the same way, i will continue to believe that people are innately good. If some will not come as noble as i think, then i will be hurt, yes. But at least, i have let other people start with all the trust and respect that is due to every human being.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Music and My World
The world without music
Is one boring classic
That tells not a story
But a shadow of inactivity
The world without music
Is a soul left by the spirit
For music is the breath
That gives life on earth.
Poetry writing in Humanities Class
USJR
Is one boring classic
That tells not a story
But a shadow of inactivity
The world without music
Is a soul left by the spirit
For music is the breath
That gives life on earth.
Poetry writing in Humanities Class
USJR
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