Reminiscing Truths ⚓

        I love the fact that the Bible never runs dry of "wonderful words of life." No matter how many times a Christian finishes through the whole Bible, it's always, always  sweeter the next reading. And somehow, there is always something... new.  New, not in the sense that I've never read this part of the Bible before. But it's more of a fresh perspective on the truth that has been there all along. And that's what makes His word even sweeter every time.        And such is Psalm 116 for me. I have always loved the Psalms, even as a kid, but it's only for these past three years that the psalmists' words resonate so deeply with me. The writer of Psalm 119 wasn't exaggerating when he said (v. 71-72), It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.  Truly, the more that we are disciplined in the School of Grace, the sweeter...

     Luzon's ECQ Week 4 coincided with the 2020 Holy Week. Originally, the school calendar indicated Wednesday - Saturday of this week to have no classes. Since the quarantine, however, our principal announced that we would have the entire week off work and encouraged us to have our personal retreat and more time for family prayer. Have I told you how much I'm grateful for this school I work in? No? Let me say it then. I'm truly grateful for MGCNL community, in so many areas.  So I was able to spend more time reading (and watching) more materials this week. At this point, though, I'd like to highlight first how I've been selecting which materials to read/watch.         I understand that in a world where new knowledge would be only a few clicks away, many could be intoxicated, so to speak, with the "power" to know more. But knowledge puffs up. The same authors who have helped countless believers to arrive at a deeper, personal, and experiential ...

          I started week 2 of ECQ (that rhymes!) with a mental bargain. Or more like, brace-yourself-if-this-happens kind of thought process. If the cases rise to a thousand at week 2, I told myself I need to prepare for the possibility that this enhanced community quarantine would stretch for more than just. a month. Needless to say, there is already in me a heart that is almost ready to throw the towel and give up even before the real situation comes. As of today, PH's COVID-19 cases have gone up to 1546. And statistics predict that so far, this trend is only going upward. I'm bracing myself that this extremely abnormal, immensely uncomfortable, and, in many ways, painful situation will stretch on indefinitely.        And indeed, when one focuses on all the things that seem wrong and out of place, the heart suddenly has a wide space for complaints and grumblings. On the other hand, if we truly tune in our hearts to the word of God an...

      So, it happened. Three months into just hearing about the much-dreaded COVID-19, it finally reached Philippine shores and, just a few days ago, has been declared as a locally transmitted disease. This announcement means that it's not only those who had travel history overseas could acquire the virus. It could now be anyone  in the local community. The government's response? Community quarantine. Only people with work and official business must be seen out of their cities. And as the number of positive cases continues to rise (230 cases as of March 20, 12NN), this community quarantine is even made stricter. Now with the whole of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), no one had been able to get out of their houses. Cities are locked down, and no one goes in or out aside from the food and essential services providers and medical workers.         My first seven days being "stuck" at my parents' place sure felt like at least th...

Pililia Wind Farm, 2019 “I don't mind close-ups, I like them, but they're kind of forceful - you see a lot, you get a lot of information in a close-up. There's less mystery.” —David Duchovny When I saw this quote online, it got me thinking. Do we really lose the “mystery-ness” of things when we get more information about them? The sense of awe and wonder—do they fade as you see the things you admire at a closer perspective? Surely, with the imperfect and the flawed, the trend of feeling lesser awe as one sees more is set. Not necessarily because of the mere fact that you’ve seen more of it—but because, being imperfect, when we see more of something, we inevitably see more of its flaws. More depths to the beauty we have initially perceived, yes, sometimes. But the flaws, scars, dents, and imperfections that were so carefully hidden before are also now brought to light. In a different light, this fallen world, and everything in it, becomes less appealing. N...