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Famine of love

Jesus gave us the solution to selfishness: Love one another as I have loved you

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - When Mother Theresa came to this country for the first time, she said:  "I suppose that some of you are feeling that you would have to buy a plane ticket and travel to India if you were to give effective help to the poor.  There is no need.  The poor are right here in your own country.  In the third world, there is often a famine of the stomach due to the lack of food, but the people are rich in love.  They share what little they have with one another.  In developed nations like yours, there is an abundance of food.  But there is often a famine of the heart due to a lack of love.  The victims of this famine of love are the new poor.  And who are these poor people?  They are the people sitting next to you". 

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#1 on the list

As I was chatting with a friend regarding whether it matters that we’re together with someone of the same faith, I remember how I came to realize the answer to that question years back because of one particular friend.

He was a good friend whom I learnt about God a lot from, it was a passion that we shared – the love for Christ. That’s when I told myself that I want a guy who’s like that!

It’s true that 2 persons do not have to have the same passion for everything, just some things (that way one compliments the other too). However, I learnt that the most important passion to share together with your lifetime partner must be love for God! To be able to run home and tell your partner the amazing experience you encountered with God in the day, to have him pray for you, to pray together, meditate and discuss God’s Word together…

You know how girls have this list of what criteria their future partner-to-be should have (corny, but true, hehe). Well, since then that was number one on my list. And I thank God today that He has blessed me with a man who seeks His will.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

2 Corinthians 6:14-15

Being in a relationship with a non-believer once, I say that it does make a huge difference. Now, with JD, when we struggle with issues, we always ask God to intervene and give us the strength and wisdom to work things out - which is truly amazing I'll tell you. 

With a partner of the same faith - both does not travel down the pathway of life alone hand in hand, but also with the cross clasped between both persons' palms.  

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

The letter

Yesterday, I received a letter offering me a job that I wanted last year. I prayed for it then but was listed as a reserve. It has not been on my mind since then.

For the past few months, since I worked under another supervisor, I began to enjoy and learn so much about the design of bridges. 

I question God about the timing of the offer. It came at a time most unexpected and the time when I’m most comfortable with my work. On top of it, I only have so much time to decide.

As I wrote the last paragraph, I remember how both Zechariah and Mary have each reacted to the news of the birth of their respective child by the angels. Zechariah doubted the angel’s words and his voice was taken away till his child was born. Meanwhile Mary did not doubt and trusted God’s timing and all. 

On another hand, as I ponder about all this, this dilemma seems timely for this season of Advent. Perhaps I could now relate to what Mother Mary was going through. She was comfortable with her life, that she was soon to be wedded to her dear Joseph. In the midst of all these, she received the news of having to bear a child – Jesus. Perhaps at that moment Mother Mary had the same thoughts I have right now.

Only God knows which path I should take. And right now, after blogging about this, He seems to be shedding more light on the other one, regardless that I like my current job.

How am I to leave this job, to tell my boss? Sigh. This would be my first once I really make up my mind.

Guide me, O Lord and let me trust in You.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

How I became a Catholic

I was born into a Chinese family where we followed Granny in the religious teachings of Taoism. When I was a kid, I remember Granny giving my mom these yellow papers with characters on them (called ‘hu’ in hokkien), folded into triangular shape for protection. Other days, we would follow Granny to the temple and help her carry basket of food and prayer items. On special dates, we would help Granny fold ‘money papers’ for the dead and prepare a feast for the ancestors at Granny’s house.

Those were the stronger religious background I grew up in during my childhood.

As for other part of my childhood, with regards to some of my Catholic relatives, my sister and I were often signed up for Christmas parties and children camps.

My maternal grandmother was baptized at her home with her family. Shortly after her baptism, she passed on due to her sickness. Thereafter, Mom and my aunt’s family started learning Catechism from a nun. And then, for my siblings and other cousins, we had our own Sunday school class with lots of colorings.

At the age of 12, God gave me the discernment to make a choice of faith. I used to pray to the Guang Yin statue on the way to my school every morning. In the night, I would often talk to my friend, Jesus. I asked  them both to help me make the right choice.

One day, just like that, I decided that it was Jesus whom I wanted to follow. After 3 years, I was baptized at the age of 15 together with Mom and my siblings.

It was not until years later when I realized my mistake - It was not I that chose Him then; God, my Father was the One who chose me that day..

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 

John 15:16

Overwhelmed

Today I felt really unprepared during mass. I was so nervous. Worried of forgetting the tune for the responsarial psalm I was to cantored. Struggling with the urge to want to go through the tune when the first reading was being proclaimed, I resisted and knew that I needed to focus on God and not worry. To depend on Him and not myself. To be like Mary and not Martha.

Alas, everything went well.

Times when I allow the Holy Spirit guide of my thoughts and actions, He would lavished on me His warmth, joy and love thereafter. Today was like that. It was an overwhelming feeling that made me want to tear - not of sadness but of awe of God.

The rest of the mass was so beautiful as I was so much more aware of God's presence in the Eucharistic celebration.

Last week, Padre told us at the beginning of his homily that he was going to share something he was prompted when proclaiming the Gospel instead of his prepared sermon. And after he did, he choked in tears a little, asked to be excused for a while, lowered his head and put with his hands over it. After 5 seconds he regained his composure and continued with the rest of the homily.

It made me wonder why he reacted that way cause there was really nothing sad or personal about what he was sharing. And then it struck to me that it was probably the same feeling I felt.

When we open our hearts to let God work in us, He lavishes His love on us.

Keep watch at the door of my lips

Somethings done can never be taken back.

Words spoken at a spur of the moment. Years have passed. Time has been mistakenly taken as the reason that one would have forgotten and forgiven but with women, that is unfortunately, never quite the case. 

Again I find myself blaming myself for those things I've uttered in that situation. Thinking to myself: If only I had controlled my tougue, things would have been different now.

Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

Psalms 141:3

Halloween Politics

To shrug him off or not to?

After being seasoned with design work, my boss has higher expectations of me. Therefore, more than ever, my work load has been piling up as well as I rush to meet datelines of clients.

Amidst my work today, my colleague came to me with questions. It is very tempting to just shrug someone off or give the least of advice when being asked for it in the midst of all the busyness.

Nevertheless, I paused and thought about him. If there's one thing I have learned from my principal engineer who I've been working under for the past 2 months, it's his availability. Regardless of his tight schedule, each time I or my colleagues call to inquire about things (sometimes even regarding project irrelevant to him), he never ceases to welcome us.

And I thought, hey, that's how I want to be. Regardless of the work load, I should always offer that explanation to another colleague.

At the end of the day, as I was reading the chapter on 'Don't be too big to do something small' by Max Lucado in his book 'Cure for the Common Life', God surprised me with this verse which is definitely not a coincidence but arranged by Him:

If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself.
You are not that important.
~Galatians 6:3(NLT)~

I am familiar with the normal translation by NIV which says 'If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself'. But this translation from New Living Translation shed a new light on the verse for me.

Do you also struggle to help your colleagues when you're too busy?

Comments that stuck

The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
~Proverbs 16:1~

Recently I've been thinking about my cousin, Danny who lives in Singapore. We're really not close but I thought it funny how he has impacted my life with 2 separate comments on 2 separate events.

The first was the trip to Singapore after my form 5 exams. I was figuring what career to pursue then. I was contemplating about studying interior designing, however after his advice, I threw that idea out of my head and settled to do civil engineering instead.

The second was the trip recently when out of the blues he asked me if I still blogged. Told him no and he said, "You should continue blogging." That - was totally random.

Though I could never really contemplate why these 2 comments stuck with me. I suspect it's God's way of reaching out to me - the first one to divert my career option and the second to give a me a kick at the back to get back to blogging. Quite cool how He does it eh? Using the people we least expect to influence us.

How about you? Has God used others to direct your paths?

Hello again!

Hello my readers! It's been a long time since I've blogged.

I am starting a new blog for my new phase in life.

Feels like God has been tugging my heart to start blogging again since the beginning of this year. So, after much procrastination here I am. Finally, eh.

Here in my blog, I may rant about my life and most importantly - what God is teaching me every single day and week as I continue to serve Him in His church. What a fruitful year of much learning. The more I learn about the Catholic church, the more I fall in love with her richness and beauty.

May you be blessed and enriched by this humble blog of mine.

All glory and honour to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.