The Park

"God is calling you again."


People's Park, Davao City - While I was at this place another calling has come upon me. I was there for almost two hours and I considered those hours another golden hours in my day. Like a wonderful promise of forgiveness from God, He sent me three of His youngest and newest disciples in my generation today.

The first person He sent me was a 14 year old young boy named Renz. Wearing a summer short and a T-shirt with his sling bag, this boy approached me and said, " Are you waiting for someone? Can we talk?"

To my kindness I said  my generous "Yes, sure." He introduced himself to me not as a young boy but a mover, an evangelist of God's loving words. I knew almost everything he was saying to me since I already have accepted Christ 4 years ago, but I never realized about his topic. Patience. What is really patience?

He was talking to me to be patient but I was learning from him about God's patience, He is a loving Father with an eternal patience. I already have accepted Christ but sometimes I do not live His ways. God is patient - that no matter how I sin He perfectly knows I am coming back to Him.

The next persons I met were DK and Brylle, a gentlemen in my age wearing the same shirt with a printed word FREE PRAYER. Do I really need this? Another generosity from my time I allowed them to pray for my regrets in losing my bestfriend who committed suicide.

If I was generous that night, they were more generous. I only asked them to pray for my regrets and yet they prayed for almost all the hidden desires of my heart - my family, career, health and many other petitions.

After blessing me with the FREE PRAYERS, we have introduced ourselves and I can still remember what I  told them. "Thank you, I never knew People's Park is becoming a holy place now.

God is calling me, He is calling you also. Do you hear Him calling us now?

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The Coin

Jeepney, this is always the primary object of my stories. Life changing lessons can happen in this public transit. You will be able to see people from different walks of life. People who has their own failures, desires and even hatred.

I was on my way to the downtown for a dinner in one of the finest restuarants in the city. As a passenger I have given my faith to the driver that he will be taking me to our destination safe and sound.

Everything is in hike this time, so everything people earn is valued well. As I was paying the fare, I handed 20 pesos to the driver with a huge smile. I was smiling not only because I was excited for my dinner date but also for a wonderful day. The driver then handed me back my change. He might have not noticed it but he handed me 17 pesos instead of giving me back 12 pesos.

Five pesos more for me or five pesos less for the driver. Sins make us human. I would admit that I considered keeping the extra money but as I was comparing myself to this jeepney driver I have seen a father in him and asked myself the following questions:

How much money is this driver earning for his family? How much effort have he exerted for his living? Another comparison, I am a passenger with no pressing obligations from my children, I am a passenger working in a five star hotel, I am a passenger invited to eat at a fine dining restaurant tonight.

In shame, I gave the five pesos back to the driver, a father. I cannot forget the smile of the jeepney driver as I handed him back the 5 pesos. A very small amount, but it was an amount worth earning for his family.

Life is considered as an exciting journey, we are the passengers and our Father is the Driver. As we travel He wants us to walk with faith that no matter how tempting the offers are, we should always try to resist them.

God has been blessing us not only good things in life but good people worth keeping. We need to see all the blessings He is giving us for us to share those blessings.

Remember that no matter how successful you are, you will never be happy without sharing your success. Blessing are never kept but shared.

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The Seat

“The person you are inside is the person you can be outside.” This line can imply many picture of human’s personality. A greedy, a selfish, a hopeless but thankful personality and sometimes a kind one. These are the most common personalities usually seen on jeepney.

One night while I was on my way home a greedy personality appeared after me, a jeepney driver. Insisting that his 18 seater jeepney is 20 seater.

Nobody gave in the selfish passengers are on their bad face wanting not to share any space on their seats to the last hopeless passenger who were thinking of not seeing any other available route of jeepney or taxi cab to their place.

Finally big five to the only kind and generous human around who gave his seat which resulted him to almost seat on the air before landing on the floor. Life’s journey is like this, most of the time we might think that it’s our dead end but as we get closer to its end we finally see that someONE is waiting for us WHO is willing to help us and extend HIS unconditional love.

Life is always fair. Even if there are greedy, selfish or you seem to be hopeless you still meet the generous man around who can make you thankful about your life.

The generous man’s heart expected no reward but as he heard the word of thanks from the two hopeless passenger it pleased him and inspired him to continuously help. Like God it also delights Him that in all the days of our lives we still appreciate our existence no matter what happen. Life is beautiful we just need to TRUST Him. Believe that you have received them – that is praying!

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The Pedestrian

“Man always on the danger zone.” This was taught to me in one of the personality development workshops I attended in college. I am already working now, I am no longer a student in a university but I still observe and find curiosity on the things around me.

When I was on my way home I saw a couple crossed a pedestrian. A wife on the danger zone holding her husband’s hand on the other side.

For some you might think that this scene showed a fading love since Mr. Prince Charming is no longer Mr. Gentleman. Surely, if we see this couple 20 years ago on the same pedestrian lane we will see them on the other picture around.

Remember when you were still dating? Your boyfriend sends you the best flower arrangement, wraps the best chocolate, composes you the flowing letter and pays for your date in the most romantic if not expensive restaurant in town. You can even sleep on his shoulder when you were tired. 

In married life things may change. You may need to prepare everything without him appreciating what you are doing. Sometimes he may forget your anniversary, your birthday or you may even need to cross the pedestrian with him while you are on the danger zone.

The question is - Where is love now? Is love still present? Certainly yes. Love is present where the sacrifices are made. Everything may change but love will never be and should never be. For the wife it does not matter even if after 20 years of their married life she needs to be on the danger zone. She does not count her sacrifices. All she care about is to cross the road of life with her man. She will still be in love and delightful to walk with him even if she has to be on the danger zone because her man walks slowly with his arthritis.

This is true love. God loves more than this way. HE does not count how big is your sin to forgive you. He does not ask you to be very religious as long as you have the faith in HIM. Let us not forget to walk with him in all the journeys of out lives. Let us keep the faith alive. God is love. Always be in love.

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Parable of an Old Man

While I was on the public transit I saw an old man reading a book. I have not read the title of the book but it was very clear to me that he is reading one of John Maxwell's writing. I can see how interested he was in the book he's reading. I was amazed not only because he's reading John Maxwell's book but also in his old age he still wants learning.

This thing made me dream to be an author of many books that even an old man in a public transit will read and I also want to get old reading everywhere I go a book that will help me make my life better and the life of the people around me.

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The Socks

Wearing a black long pants and a white gala on his duty in a five star hotel.

This waiter was not only wearing the above description but he was also in his full blast of energy on his face. With a wonderful smile this waiter approached many guests and said his warm good morning to them. Positivity - this was what his presence brought in serving.

The waiter I am trying to describe is actually me. I do not know any right choice of word to start about me but to create a picture of myself while on duty. This picture was created base on the comments our guest have told me.

Smiling is really my gear in any other challenges. Let me tell you a story.

3 years ago while I was still in my second year in college I bought a pair of black socks. This pair was on sale which cost me 25 pesos only. It's a very cheap but memorable belonging for me now. Who would expect a 25 peso socks would last up to 3 years?

Yes it lasted three years and I am very proud wearing it until now . I am now working with my first job as waiter and basically I am earning. You know the person you are in your past can really influence the person you are today.

I was financially challenged before, so every single centavo was in value for me and that thing has left me a lesson to value things until now. Wearing my 3 old socks, I am reminded of my beautiful existence that life is never about quitting. You might think that in some areas you are restricted by the resources you have in life but it does matter to be restricted. The more restricted you are the more you find ways, you become more resourceful.

Talking about restriction, my 3 year old socks has given me allowance now, my left toe can no longer feel it---im not paralyze but I can't feel wearing the left sock because it's already became a stocking-like sock with a hole in my toe:-)

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Quality Time

Today's world is made with so many schedules. Sometimes we're having trouble managing our resources but do we know what resource should be given enough attention and priority in order for us to properly and effectively use the rest of the resources we have on hand?

I was on the public transit for work when I saw a mother with her son seated on her lap. People may not have noticed it but while I was looking at them I created a question on my mind. "Why did the mother seat the child on her lap when there are still available seats on the bus?"

As I was staring at them, I needed not to ask anyone else about it anymore. I realized that the mother did not want to save money for her child's fare but she's trying to save the time for her son. Allowing her son to seat on her lap was giving her the chance of letting her son feel the real motherly love.

No matter how tiring it looks, no matter how painful it appears-- A mother will never give up the chance of expressing their love to their children in any ways they know. Sometimes we have arguments with them, we do not want to listen to their words. They seem to be unrealistic for us. Their ideas are obsolete. No, mother knows best. They want you to be the best. No matter how you see your mother yesterday and today, always remember whenever you get lost your mother's love is with you until eternity.

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