Heminio Jr. A recently added friend here in this network sent this really good short story. If you have the time you might want to read it. Thanks again Herminio. For someone like me who needs to keep his temper in check. Your message hit home quite nicely!
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. WHEN YOU SAY THINGS IN ANGER, THEY LEAVE A SCAR JUST LIKE THIS ONE. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, THE WOUND IS STILL THERE. " A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."
YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND I AM HONORED!
PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF I HAVE EVER LEFT A HOLE…
This song’s message affects me so strongly today as it did 12 years ago, when I struggled to finish my college degree. I guess for most of us, we could not see the bigger picture because we were too near our life’s portrait. Too busy painting the fine details, our hands and faces smeared with paint and the pressure to conform. Until one day, failure, sadness, frustration or tragedy caused us to take a few steps backward; and we realized what matters most in life. I owe my best friend big time for introducing this song to me….
Today I watched in silence as people passed me by,
And I strained to see if there was something hidden in their eyes;
But they all looked at me as if to say
Life just goes on.
The old familiar story told in different ways,
Make the most of your own journey from the cradle to the grave;
Dream your dreams tomorrow because today
Life must go on.
CHORUS
But theres more to this life than living and dying,
More than just trying to make it through the day;
More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see,
And theres more than this life alone can be.
Tonight he lies in silence staring into space,
And looks for ways to make tomorrow better than today,
But in the morning light it looks the same;
Life just goes on.
He takes care of his family, he takes care of his work,
And every Sunday morning he takes his place at the church;
And somehow he still feels a need to search,
But life just goes on.
(chorus)
So where do we start to find every part
Of what makes this life complete;
If we turn our eyes to Jesus well find
Lifes true beginning is there at the cross where He died.
He died to bring us . . .
(chorus)
Music and Lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman
It could be providential that they made their move a day before Bonifacio Day. Hours ago a group of young military officers facing trial bolted out of a makati trial court together with their guards to begin another attempt to change this corrupt government. With so much to lose and so much to gain, most government officials will not lift a finger to change the current scheme of things. They are blinded by greed which frees them from conscience and any moral imperative. They sack public coffers and gorge on the blood and sweat of everyone who are powerless in paying taxes which these cold blooded reptiles easily pocket without fear of retribution.
Today is a test of this generation’s resolve to change for the better. Do we cower in fear safe in the confines of our own homes? Are we already too jaded for our own good? Will we see people in the streets, or will it end with just a whimper? Are we going to cast doubts on this group’s motives, or are we going too join them in saying "enough is enough" to a government that has long lost public trust with its endless stream of scandals? We shall see…….
Whatever happens, let us allow our conscience to direct us, to motivate us to do what is right, and to take action in a manner that we will not regret when we are old and gray.
A work in progress……
Saved by grace……
Striving to improve….
Frustration and Joy abound!…
Blessed with family and friends….
Looking to the future with hope…
Learning from the past…
While living in the moment.
I’ve always wanted to write about the concept of Time. It’s one of the most challenging realities because its nature makes humanity subject to it. (no exceptions) Time is so powerful that it doesn’t need coercion nor cajoling to influence us. It is indestructable, unstoppable and a constant reminder of how fleeting our lives are. On the other hand, Time also provides it’s own counterpoint because for all its seeming power over us we can actually choose ignore it. There is this detachment that also prevents it from interfering with our physical affairs. At times (no pun intended) it seems like a mute witness to anything and everything, unable to raise a voice of complaint or encouragement. Time can be altogether beautiful and boring in a span of seconds, minutes or hours. Ring!!!!!……(Cell phone rings to remind ) Tapos na ang lunch!……..Balik na sa trabaho…ensnared once again by its power………To be continued……….
I’ve just finished my final interview for an MBA application to La Salle. At 34, I’m going back to school. Who would have thought that was possible? I barely got out of college with a degree and now here I am about to take the deep plunge. Lester my best friend if you’re reading this I hope you don’t break a bone after finding this out.
I copied this song (All I ever have to be) for anyone who cares to read. The pressure of striving to please everyone thru images and shadows of what the truth is, is a weight we shouldn’t place on our shoulders. We need not push ourselves in the direction of other people’s expectations. We just have to find the road that leads us to who we really are.
When the weight of all my dreams
Is resting heavy on my head,
And the thoughtful words of health and hope
Have all been nicely said.
But I’m still hurting,
Wondering if I’ll ever be
The one I think I am.
I think I am.
Then you gently re-remind me
That you’ve made me from the first,
And the more I try to be the best
The more I get the worst.
And I realize the good in me,
Is only there because of who you are.
Who you are…
And all I ever have to be
Is what you’ve made me.
Any more or less would be a step
Out of your plan.
As you daily recreate me,
Help me always keep in mind
That I only have to do
What I can find.
And all I ever have to be
All I have to be
All I ever have to be
Is what you’ve made me
Written by Gary Chapman
Work really gets to be hard when you can’t find the time to prepare yourself to do well. It gets worse if your job involves talking in front of people who expect to get something out of the program in the most entertaining way possible. I ask myself am I suppose to entertain and act cheerful all the time? What if I bomb out? Then times really get embarassing coz you do it in front everyone……Ah, these days have been quite uneven for me. Yesterday I think I sucked big time. The program materials were great but I had a group who I thought I knew, but turned on me because of their gripes with the company. My confidence really went down after running a program I developed and thought was a sure winner. Today I had to run a different training program running on very little swagger and very little preparation as well. (God, I don’t want to bomb out two days in a row….HELP!!!!!) Surprisingly, people were laughing, smiling and the day went pretty well. Not the best, but not too bad at all. What did I do right?……Still don’t have an answer for that. Maybe God just gave me a break. Thank you! Now what to do with tomorrow…….aah God Help again?……
Do you remember that old tv show in the late 80s to early 90s. I didn’t really follow it that much but I chanced upon some episodes and it talked about what kids go through when they’re growing up. There were a lot more shows during those days that focused their comedic efforts on the family. Eight is Enough, The Cosby Show, Punky Brewster….. Do you remember? If you don’t, chances are you were too young or it didn’t make an impression. Times have really changed. These days shows like those will never air on prime time.(Unless it’s a reality show about disfunctional friends who visit families turning their lives upsidee down.) Anyway, I had real fun watching them growing up. We actually grew up right along beside them! I wish I could still see reruns because amazingly, it provides great perspective as to how we should handle difficult family situations. As a dad I share the same fate as most fathers who struggle with the joys of fatherhood with two daughters ages 2 and 5. I’d take watching this reruns anytime to reading up on the topic. More importantly, I would rather make sure that I actually spend the time seeing them grow up before my own eyes. Not too quickly, but a slow and steady pace for us parents to savor and enjoy every single moment of our child’s "wonder years". A great challenge when both of us need to work 5 days week. Weekends. Weekends are about family. I need to keep reminding myself of that lest the "Wonder Years" pass me by so quickly.
It is a dark and sad day in our country’s existence when you see a government bereft of a desire to serve. The lords of these lands are reeking with selfish intent, wielding power that determines the fate of millions of us. They are only interested in feeding their insatiable desire for wealth and position.
Sadder still is the state of a people who allow themselves to be played as fools despite their intelligence and the heritage that we now call Edsa People Power 1 and 2. The failure to have government and leadership that truly serves the people after these events and the seeming inability to better our lot all these years has blighted our citizenry with indifference and a resigned acceptance that it beyond our power to change our stars. We now think that it is a waste of time to speak up against wholesale injustice and corruption in high places. “Wala rin naman mangyayari. Ginawa na natin yon dati wala naman nagbago.” “Wala naman alternative eh.” “It is useless to do anything because iba naman ang makikinabang if we take to the streets again”. I can almost hear the evil people controlling the reins of power laughing at how inept and hopeless we have all become. Yes, they are all laughing all the way to the bank and then some.
After the current Resident Evil in Malacanang is done sucking the government coffers dry, we will elect another depraved individual whose lust for power and wealth will rival the current occupant. It’s a vicious cycle where we are mere pawns to be used by another self serving Malacanang wanabee. So we swallow our pride or wash our hands from any guilt. We are content to raise hell over such issues like the Desperate Housewives bit trying to hold on to whatever ounce of dignity we have left. We try to fight the battles that we think we can win and act like cowards by the wayside in those battles that really matter.
Where is the public outrage with Hello Garci, ZTE, The Malacanang bribery of congressmen and governors, and lately the Erap Pardon? Such unspeakable evil along with the numerous salvage victims and disappearances of young people and media men with no one held accountable for such acts. We turn a blind eye to the sacrifices of the people who testified against the convicted plunderer and the millions of pesos in taxpayer’s money that was spent to nail this guy.
Even without a viable alternative in the horizon I seek to shed light to expose darkness. Speak up on matters that will affect my children’s children. I will remember the past, what our parents fought for and standing firm on the principle they lived by.
As a generation we should now carve out our own destiny. We should build it on courage, goodness and integrity. Courage to do the right thing not just for ourselves but for the greater good and a vision that will build a better nation for our children. We have small pockets of successes and goodness in the land. Let us elevate goodness into public consciousness. Not the type to be taken advantage of but a kind of goodness that has the audacity to spread itself and present us all with a better alternative. Integrity is freedom from darkness. All we have to do is decide to come into the light whatever the consequences.
