Journeys 244: My best journey is yet to come

As another left in the book turns, as the old leaf fell off the branch, one has to be reckoning as to who flipped it new or who broke off the branch? Was it the air or the old leaf weary that it hold on no longer? Recently, I have had the lowest chapter in my life including friends getting the dreaded C and the coping up is much painful to bear and yet, we strive harder to move on as a new day promises a new vitality, enthusiasm and perhaps, love.

As we journey on in our lives, we encounter encumbrances that we think holds us back but actually make us first try the first step, only this time, an extra load is added to our already weary shoulders. We have had been living comfortably well prior to a dreaded news but will it really stop us from moving? Can we be like stuck in the middle of nowhere trying to fidget with uncertainty. We have many questions like will I be alright then? Will it bears me more fruit to enjoy? Will it make me wiser? Will it renewed me? Will it redeems me? Will it liberates me? Will it and more will it comes to mind but honestly, its only God who showers the answers to all and every question.

As they say that anything that comes along will too shall pass. The trying times seem to be hardest to endure but with God at the center of our lives, nothing is impossible. The best and enduring promise of God can be seen in the poem “Footprints in the Sand” which when I was a young boy, I read with much reflection. I know that when I am pained, God will be carry my load for me. When I am bruised, he heals it. When I am tired, he carries me.

My best journey in life is yet to come. Soonest when we are comforted by the abiding graces of God, our journeys will be lighter albeit in a different perspective now. Last night, over dinner, I was randomly asked by my friend, Troy Asugas which I prefer to have: Cancer or Cardiac Arrest ? I calmly told him that should I have to choose, I’d wished it’s the dreaded C for the same reason that such will redeem me spiritually while also not discounting the physical pains one has to endure. I shared to him the book I read about CEO Eugene O’Kelly who contracted brain tumor and he was told to live for 100 days no more. Practically-minded, he lived his life closing all his relationships, friends, associates, everyone who came into his life. He said in his book Chasing Daylight that his cancer and his death is a gift for he was able to prepare for it unlike those who died of accidents and cardiac arrests. Although, in my mind, I wished nothing near the two choices since I dream to live healthy and wisely beyond the twilight years.

The pains now, the phases and the enduring confusions will too shall pass. God will, as always, the greatest comforter and abider of the healing power of miracles of which I believed. To those of my friends who suffer, I am hugging you all in my warmest days and in my lowest chapters to make you stronger than me. Always remember that our journey is yet to come. It shall, as said in the song, shall pass.

Journey 206: Ang Tsinelas (The Slippers)

Just as when we live our lives, we fit into big and small shoes or perhaps, in this case, slippers. We have made ourselves the best example of what we can achieve in our lifetime and in our efforts of doing so, we gained perspectives of life, of living and of moving on and coping up. This is the cycle one has to endure for the rest of our lives because we have walked the path that others have not, we have journeyed on together, looking at the world in one eye and touching it with one hands, painting its colors and making for ourselves the opportunity that one day, ours will be the greatest gift to keep for the rest of our lives.

When we breathe each day, we come into who we are and what we had become of ourselves. We made for us, a legacy that no one can ever even ask or perhaps understand. When we stand on some crucial decisions in life, we manifested our unified strength to fight on, lead a happy life, with us and our families and friends. When we were made to count our blessings, we have so many. We have had the best journey together, that one day, our paths shall be intertwined, maybe not in this world but in the other to continue this path we took in the slippers we wear.

The slippers symbolize our own foothold on the earth. I had been, as I told myself repeatedly; only use the smallest slipper I can find. It is because the bigger ones are too heavy to bear, too cumbersome to wear and too ironically, uncomfortable to take on the journey. My slipper is the one, even if worn out already, makes me the best person I can become. I had come into my being who I am because of the humility I gained from wearing my life around my slippers. It is just majestic that for the past days, months and years, we lived so intertwined.

Life has to take on its path in this journey and the slippers remind us that in our journey to wherever our paths bring us, we have companions, friends, partners, lovers, families who are ready to walk side by side us, love us unconditionally and make every effort to understand us the more. We have made it already in this path so we either hold on to our poor little worn out slippers as we go on or walk barefoot, to feel the earth. I have chosen already and thus, to preserved my slippers, I will forever walk barefoot however, on my shoulders are our slippers, carrying us through life.

Journey 151: The HERO

How many of you have seen a “real-life, breathing hero” of your own? How many have seen them walk through all corners of the earth and inspire people the way it captivated you. Certainly, our context definition of heroes are those found in books, newspapers, magazines and what media is defining them but real heroism happens every day. It happens where you are and when you least expected it. When crossing a road and nearly gotten into an accident, the next person who happens to be a stranger who have saved you is your hero, those are angels sent to guard you. When you are lonely and sorrowful, friends are like heroes trying everything to cheer you up and while you are down, stays with you to listen.

Heroism is never something illustriously out of reach. Heroism are much felt whenever we are in the midst of every problem, challenge, trial and tribulation. Your hero could be your boss who continually inspires you to aspire for more professionally. Your hero could be your parents who believed in you and your dreams. Your hero could be the next man or woman sleeping beside you every night, eat with you in a table so huge and also those who writes you papers of sort, application papers to resignation papers. These are daily heroes we meet every day but refused to see them through because we thought that heroes are immortality minted in Greek mythology. We refuse to acknowledge them because we thought that heroes are seen on TV and those with shining armour carrying you in their carriages.

Our hero are ordinary men and women who helped us shaped the better us. They are there with us whenever we are in need of them and their presence and stands by whenever we seemed to be forgetful about them. Indeed, heroism is not what you think it is but it does happen every day and by far, done by ordinary people whom you at the very least, taken for granted.

It is never late to recognize them as they are in your lives. Embrace them!