Be Not Afraid

I've been meaning to write a weekly note here after hearing mass so that I'd remember what I learned in church, but I just haven't gotten around to doing it.

Today's Miguel's birthday and despite the typhoon I'm glad we did not procrastinate and heard mass at our usual time with the choir. Hearing mass never fails to center me whenever things go haywire. I've been stressed out the past week and it's been driving me bonkers.

Our new parish priest gives really great homilies. You'd never notice that he actually takes an hour to finish his homily, that's because he explains the readings, responsorial psalm and the Gospel. He never preaches, he gives concrete examples and is actually very entertaining.

There were three main messages that Fr. Ramon communicated during his homily: cast your burdens on Him, be not afraid, and be content.

The homily reminded me that I am not alone and that I should never worry about tomorrow because the Lord will always, ALWAYS be there. All through these years He's been there to guide me and bring me to where I should be. There were a lot of rough patches, but I managed because I made Him my Navigator. I have nothing to be afraid of because He will always take care of me because He loves me. And that is what I should never forget.

Please say a prayer for the victims of the Sulpicio Lines ship that sank today at Romblon and for all the victims of Typhoon Frank.

Psalm 23 (for the working people)

I received this in my email and it said I should pass it on to others. It's a great reminder about why we actually work. Gave me peace of mind when I read it and I'm going to print it and post it in front of my work station.

The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want.
He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.
He gently reminds me to pray and do all things without
murmuring and complaining.

He reminds me that He is my source and not my job.
He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions
that I might honor Him in all that I do

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system
crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping
co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body
that doesn't cooperate every morning, I still will not stop---
for He is with me! His presence, His peace, and His power
will see me through.

He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me.
He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens
to let me go. His Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus cheque

His retirement plan beats any 401k there is!
When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer
and for that
I BLESS HIS NAME!!!!!!

Shoooo!

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

- John Wooden

I never imagined myself to be in the limelight even though a manghuhula told me a few years ago that I have "stars" on the palm of my hand. He said I was destined to become famous and have great responsibility. My reaction then was just to giggle. I said, "Who? Me?" And I feared that it might come true.

That's why I hyperventilated (figuratively) for two months when I got my job. I cried when I arrived at the San Francisco Airport. And I was simply speechless for almost 3 months which made my boss think that I wasn't the person who went through the interviews. I was simply overwhelmed. My parents just taught me how to do good in my work and not how to handle "being known".

I still don't consider myself as "known". I still fear it because I do not want to change. I just want to be the girl-next-door, "the daughter of", the bungisngis, the nerd, Miguel's Mom, the Sweetie etc. and at the end of the day I just want to complete my mission.

`nuff said.