If you woke up this morning
with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the
million who won't survive the week.
If you have never experienced
the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or
the pangs of starvation,
you are ahead of 20 million people
around the world.
If you attend a church meeting
without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death,
you are more blessed than almost
three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator,
clothes on your back, a roof over
your head and a place to sleep,
you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank,
in your wallet, and spare change
in a dish someplace, you are among
the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive,
you are very rare,
especially in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile
on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can,
but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them
or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you can
offer God's healing touch.
If you can read this message,
you are more blessed than over
two billion people in the world
that cannot read anything at all.
You are so blessed in ways
you may never even know.
If you are feeling blessed, repay the blessings bestowed unto you and do something for others.
A blessing cannot be kept. If it stops with you, then the blessing will disappear. The blessing will only keep working if it is continuously passed around. If you are a recipient of a blessing, keep the blessing working by being the source of blessing to other people.
B A G E T S
Back in 1990, when my brother, Manong Oscar, was the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), I also introduced myself as the Secretary of Transformation and Communion!
Come to think of it, the whole Lenten Season is simply the call toward real conversion and transformation of one’s heart and character, and, toward a deeper, more personal communion with God and others, especially the less fortunate in our midst. It’s the time to be renewed and vibrant, to be BAGETS (not bakets - Ilocano word for old woman) in our spiritual life once again.
So, let’s go B - A - G - E - T - S for Lent!
B – Balik Panginoon (Back to God)
Let us bring back God into our hearts by making a good confession. When was the last time you really humbled yourself and asked to be forgiven by your God? Right away, the evil one will tell you that you have no real sins (denial), that it’s really not that bad so there’s no need to go to confession (rationalization) and that you go to confession “tsaka na lang" (postponement).
A – Alis Galit (Away with anger)
Look into your heart and dispose all the useless junk you’ve been carrying in your heart all these years. You are not obliged to be miserable in this life! Forgive and you are free. Continue to be angry and resentful and you are miserable. You have been forgiven much. Be grateful. Be forgiving. End your private wars and battles. In the end, nobody wins if nobody forgives. Forget your favorite refrain that says "Me and me against the world." And stop being calculating and exacting in your relationships. Dapat give na give ka, huwag lang one-give, two gives, three gives!
G – Gawa Mabuti (Go for good actions)
Share naman. You who have much in life, please help the many people suffering around. I raise again the question: How much money do you really need in this life to be happy? How much of that money you are accumulating and holding on so can you take along with you when you leave this world? Remember, to whom much is given, much is also required. Again, be reminded that the riches (time, talent, and treasure) that you give away are the only riches you bring with you to eternity. Use your money for your salvation, not for your condemnation.
E – Express Your Love
Slow down and take time for God and people, and also for yourself. A very good practice is to kneel down as soon as you wake up and before you sleep to express your adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, supplication (ACTS) to your God. Another doable and very renewing practice is to drop by a church just to spend some moments of quiet and prayer — the candle glow once more! On the human level, it is amazing how we can “starve" other people of our love. We give only the comfortable installment, as it were, with a plan to give the lump sum when the person is dead or dying already. When it comes to loving, regular daily shower is better than a long drought with a final big downpour. Little things mean a lot, and it takes very little to make our loved ones happy. A phone call. A smile. A pat on the back. A hug. Very doable. Just do it now.
T – Tanggal Bisyo (Take away vice)
Someone once told me that he had no temptations. Why? Because as soon as temptation comes, he’d give in right away! We must not give up fighting our vices and weaknesses. We must continue to try and avoid the occasions and persons that lead us to sin. It would be a good idea to chart once the stages and steps that led you to a particular sinful moment. Once you know that road, avoid it. That’s right: take the "road less traveled." It leads to peace. It leads to Heaven.
S – Smile
Whatever sacrifice or good deeds you do, do it with a smile. God loves a cheerful giver, and God blesses a generous grateful (not resentful) heart. Take away that "Good Friday look" from your face and that "far-away look" in your eyes.
S – Secret
If you want to experience real joy, do all of the above in secret.
Let it be something just between you and your God, and you’ll experience a joy which the world cannot give or take away. Come to think of it, maybe this is the reason I started this with a note about being a secretary — a reminder to keep our Lenten project of transformation and communion a secret.
towards deeper conversion.
Today, this moment, I hear your voice.
Help me not to harden my heart.
Amen.
ARIES. Business opportunities and travel are well aspected under this period. Stimulating developments should take place in your career which could result in several short trips, probably abroad. These should prove to be a great success provided that you get your facts straight and always play by the rules. If not – watch out! Some form of partnership also seems likely and this could mean a new romantic attachment for you!
TAURUS. Now is the time to harvest the fruits of your labors. All your hard work will finally pay dividends and you should be well rewarded for your efforts. Once you have finished celebrating success you should endeavor to relax, because this is what your body needs after all the pressure it has been under lately. Try to get away for a while if at all possible.
GEMINI. This is the right time to do battle for what is wanted. Off with the kid gloves and stop defending yourself with excuses! This is the only way that you will ever be victorious. Once you have shown your teeth people will think twice before they try to fob you off with petty excuses again.
CANCER. This is a particularly fertile phase in your life when seeds sown for the future are sure to take root and grow into success and abundance. You should endeavor to convert your ideas into reality – the rewards for a productive intellect could be especially great at this time. It is also a good time to consider entering into marriage or starting a family, should you feel so inclined!
LEO. You should expect to encounter a few minor problems which will need to be solved. Some extra responsibilities may also be temporarily placed upon your shoulders for which you should receive adequate compensation. Your health should be particularly good at this time and you should endeavor to channel all your surplus energy into a project which is both useful and creative.
VIRGO. This period promises substantial progress in a project for which you are solely responsible coupled with some form of personal reward in recognition of all the long hours and hard work you have invested in the scheme. A major change in your lifestyle is also indicated which will be necessary if you wish to build a more secure future for yourself. Some of the restrictions which you have been under in the past should now lift allowing you more personal freedom and ample time to enjoy it.
LIBRA. This should prove to be a particularly busy social period when there is much to be done and not nearly enough time to do it. Your family will probably choose to be especially supportive during this period if you’re not too stubborn to accept their help. Change is in the air and this could be of environment, occupation or both. A new and meaningful relationship is also almost certain to flourish.
SCORPIO. This period heralds successful planning prior to the start of a new venture of some kind. This could point to the opening of a business, perhaps the purchase of a new property or, on a more personal level, marriage and parenthood. Look after your money during this phase, your enthusiasm could cause you to overspend!
SAGITTARIUS. This would be an appropriate time to swallow your pride. There are some facts in life that we all have to accept no matter how unpalatable, and inevitable. Once you have regained self-control you will see that there are other avenues open for you to explore.
CAPRICORN. This promises new avenues to explore for those of you willing to try something hitherto unknown and untested. You will need to be extremely flexible during this period and should be prepared to alter existing plans at the last moment without becoming flustered. Opportunities to travel could also come your way although your movements, in all probability, be restricted to your own country.
AQUARIUS. Don’t do anything precipitous on the spur of the moment. Instead you should allow yourself time to think matters over carefully before reaching a final decision, especially where contracts are concerned. Marriage is also a contract and it should be considered with extreme caution!
PISCES. During this period few things will go smoothly. Be prepared for delays, cancellations and a great deal of wasted time. There could also be some problems in your private life which will need careful handling if you wish to continue in your present relationship. Fortunately a positive outcome is also quite likely when something much better and longer lasting can be established.
