Memories

Learn from the past and move on!

Each and every one of us has its own crosses to bear, but it's comforting to look forward that the light ahead is bright enough to make us see through. Every day you either see a scar or courage. Where you dwell will define your struggle. And the brighter you become, the more you have to learn in facing the music. Have you ever heard a "song" from so long ago with so many memories tied to it that it made you cry? And didn't you with that you could go back into time when everything seemed so much simpler and carefree? Those are songs that are the soundtrack of our lives . . . . the ones that bring back childhood memories, best friends, first love, first heartbreak and all the memories. The beautiful thing about memories is that they are yours whether they are good, bad, or indifferent. They belong to you, and no matter where life takes you, your memories tie you to where you've been, and to where you are now. What happened and what will happen is our choice. Acceptance allows us to bend without breaking in the face of tests. To consider circumstances, especially those that cannot be changed, satisfactorily. Simply, embracing life on its own terms. Life is not perfect, but it is not bad either. It will always have days or moments of feeling blue, but life goes on, and so do we with Beautiful old memories to cherish. And the promise of a young hope.♥

Manila

MANILA
."She had never seen poverty on this scale. 'How can one person possibly make a difference.' For every one person Sienna fed, there were hundreds more who gazed at her with desolate eyes. Manila had six-hour traffic jams, suffocating pollution, and a horrifying sex trade, whose workers consisted primarily of young children, many of whom had been sold to pimps by parents who took solace in knowing that at least their children would be fed. Amid this chaos of child prostitution, panhandlers, pickpockets, and worse, Sienna found herself suddenly paralyzed. All around her, she could see humanity overrun by it's primal instinct for survival. 'when they face desperation . . . human beings become animals.' For Sienna all the dark depression came flooding back. She had suddenly understood mankind for what it was ---- a species on the brink. 'I was wrong,' she thought. 'I can't save the world.' Overwhelmed by traffic mania, Sienna broke into a sprint through the city streets, thrusting her way through the masses of people, knocking them over, pressing on, searching for open space. 'I'm being suffocated by human flesh!' As she ran, she could feel the eyes upon her again. She no longer blended in. She was tall and fair-skinned with a blond pony tail waving behind her. Men stared at her as if she were naked. When her legs finally gave out, she had no idea how far she had run or where she had gone. She cleared the tears and grime from her eyes and saw that she was standing in a kind of shantytown ---- a city made of pieces corrugated metal and cardboard propped up and held together. All around her the wails of crying babies and the stench of human excrement hung the air. 'I've run through the gates of hell.'
~Excerpt, Inferno, Dan Brown ~

"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
~ Voltaire ~
Francois-Marie Arouet, November 21, 1694-May 30, 1778

Hello Dan Brown, 'presumed you visited Manila. As they say there is always two side to a coin. It's heart rending to depict poverty as hell. If a person realizes that some worldly element is distracting him/her from this goal, there shall be no hesitation to distance oneself from such element. As per the Mosaic Law, every sacrifice was to be salted in order to consecrate the offering and remind the people of one's covenantal relationship with God. Therefore, losing saltiness would mean losing one's purity of intent. As Soren Kierkegaard has noted, "purity of heart is to will one thing," and this one thing is God and God alone, . . . . (Sirach 5:1-8 / Mk 9:41-50). One way to identify wisdom is to recognize its opposite. If we are wise, we will not allow foolish "inner conversations" to take place in our minds. We will not give in to overconfidence, the sin which the Catechism calls 'presumption.' There are two kinds of presumption, one kind moves us to rely too much on our own wealth or personal strength, as if we were more powerful than God, the other kind moves us to suppose God will forgive us even if we are not repentant. All who are wise in the ways of the Lord know that we must often choose a path that seems more difficult now, in the future, we will be richly rewarded. One leading to reward, the other to punishment. To the foolish the choices may seem rather insignificant. On the positive side, there is the simple act of giving someone a drink of water. It is not a grand act or an impressive sacrifice ---- it will not be reported in media or change the world.  We may be tempted to think that small acts of charity are not even worth doing, but the Lord says the man who does this "will not go without his reward." On the negative side, misleading a "simple believer." Causing another person to sin ---- especially one of the Lord's "little ones" ---- is a very serious matter. The world may treat sins as no more than light entertainment, but anyone who commits them merits a punishment harsher than being "plunged into the sea with a great millstone fastened around his neck." To emphasize the seriousness of any actions or decisions that will determine our eternal destiny. Which direction are we going in, toward eternal life in heaven or toward eternal punishment in hell? We are better off entering the Kingdom of God crippled than entering hell with our bodies fully intact. The roots of sin are not in the hand, the foot, or the eye. What must be "cut off" is every attachment to sin in the heart. We are better off gouging out our presumption and making a good confession than gouging an eye. 
Many people consider the use of such grim images ---- like drowning under the weight of a millstone or burning in a fire that never goes out ---- to be unpleasant and improper in our days. We are not supposed to make people feel uncomfortable. Only positive messages are considered acceptable. Jesus is not so concerned about how we feel, but how we are living and where we are going. His message of love and mercy includes the disturbing truth about hell. God loves us all, therefore, "Everyone will be salted with fire" ---- the fire of divine love.
Storm come and go, as often as before, sometimes it took almost everything, sometimes it leaves nothing, sometimes it leaves us nothing. But through all these, with the beautiful sunny disposition of a rainbow, life goes on. Life always goes on. Standing tall, Manileños has but one word for you MABUHAY!♥

"Accept God's message for what it really is : God's message, and not some human thinking."
~ 1 Thessaloninas 2:13 ~

Rational

Two monologues do not make a dialogue.
~ Jeff Daly ~

We feel troubled not only when bad things happen, but when unexpected good things happen as well. In other words, we feel troubled when something ---- good or bad ---- upsets our set ways of living and leaves us confused. Many of the intellectual difficulties we have with Faith come from the fact that we bring the wrong kind of mind to it. The modern world has largely lost the power of symbolic thinking and replaced it with analysis. Analysis in itself is a powerful mode of thought, but it is not the whole of thought. Even people whose conscious minds are fixed in an analytical mode are still moved unconsciously by symbolism. Our world is filled with symbols of contentment, pleasure, fulfillment, happiness ---- and these work on us all, no matter how analytical we may be. We are all manipulated by symbolism when we do not recognize its reality. Our Faith can withstand analysis, but you cannot live on analysis. "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." ♥

Never

A quitter never wins, a winner never quits. Winners never quit but when they do, they do it for the right reason. Right? Right! Okay let's hear something from,  C. S. Lewis : *Do not dare not to dare.* ---- Right!♥

Falling Stars

FALLING STARS : Do you remember still the falling stars
that like swift horses through the heavens raced
and suddenly leaped across the hurdles
of our wishes ---- do you recall? And we
did make so many! For there were countless numbers
of stars : each time we looked above we were
astounded by the swiftness of their daring play,
while in our hearts we felt safe and secure
watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate,
knowing somehow we had survived their fall.
A billion stars go spinning through the night, 
glittering above your head, 
But in you is the presence that will be 
when all the stars are dead.♥

~ Rephrase, Rainer Maria Rilke ~

Thank You Lord

Lord, Thank You.

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that He is a healer?
If you never had to pray, how would you know that He is a deliverer?
If you never had a trial, how could He help you overcome it?
If you never felt sadness, how would you know that He is a comforter?
If you never made a mistake, how would you know that He is a forgiver?
If you knew all, how would you know that He will answer all your questions?
If you never were in trouble, how would you know that He will come to your rescue?
If you never were broken, then how would you know that He can make you whole?
If you never had a problem, how would you know that He can solve them?
If you never had any suffering, then how would you know what He went through?
If you never went through the fire, then how would you become pure?
If He gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?
If He never corrected you, how would you know that He loves you?
If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on Him?
If your life was perfect, then how would you need Jesus for?♥

~ Author Unknown To Me ~

Light of the Enlightened

Aristotle : He who trusts any man with supreme power gives it to a wild beast, for his appetite sometimes makes him ---- passion influences those in power, even the best of men, but law is reason without desire . . . . 

Plato : Be kind, for every one you meet is fighting a hard battle. Man . . . . is tame or civilized animal ---- never the less, he requires proper instruction and fortunate nature, and then of all animals he becomes the most divine and most civilized ---- but if he be sufficiently or ill-educated he is the most savage of earthly creatures. Law are partly formed for the sake of good men, in order to instruct them how they may live on friendly terms with one another, and partly for the sake of those who refuse to be instructed, whose spirit cannot be subdued, or suffered or hindered from plunging into evil. 

Aristotle : Anybody can become angry that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way ---- that is not within everybody's power and is not easy. 

Plato : Anyone who has common sense will remember that the bewilderment of the eye are two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of light or from going into the light, which is true of the mind's eye, quite as much as bodily eye ---- and he who remembers this when he sees anyone whose vision is perplexed and weak, will not be too ready to laugh ---- he will first ask whether that soul of a man has come out of the brighter light, and is unable to see because unaccustomed to the dark, or having turned from darkness to the day is dazzled by excess light.♥

A Beautiful Wish

♥ Agony and its Beauty ♥

Agony is a teacher. Agony is a source of merit. Agony is a strength that gives strength. See the mystical phenomena of a Butterfly, ---- it can create more flutters in your heart than any other flying insect but you may not understand it, and yet it is a symbolic of mans own existence. Man is like a caterpillar destined to be a butterfly. Man lives in a cocoon. His cocoon is full of Ego, Goals and Misery. Man keeps on building his cocoon with false materials, He does not realize that one day everything will disappear. The caterpillar needs to die to become a butterfly. In death, a caterpillar explodes into millions of colors. In living in this moment an ugly caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly. Therefore : Live this moment with so much intensity that every death of a moment gives rise to beautiful next moment. Live this moment in such ecstasy that you have no alternative other than getting out of your cocoon. Live this moment with so much love that you have no other option but to explode into butterfly. Just be in Love with everything you see, ---- be in Love with nature, ---- be in love with existence, and ---- Be in Love in your deep acceptance. Love alone can give you wings, ---- to carry on. Love alone is enough to make you a Butterfly. Be in Love, and My wish ---- You become a Butterfly.♥

Pride

♥ The Sin of Pride ♥
~ Proverbs 16:18 ~

No individual makes it to the top on his own. Yet the person whose heart is lifted in pride takes credit for what he or she does not deserve. One of the strange things about this malady is that those who are most infected with it recognize it least. Someone has said that pride comes in three fashions : Pride of Race, which deals with the feeling of genetic superiority, something we are born with or quickly acquire from our parents and peers. Pride of Face, simply deals with arrogance. Pride of Grace is the mistaken belief that you are more spiritual than others. Of one thing we are sure of, God hates pride ---- perhaps more than any other flaw of character, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."♥

Confident

Let's face it, life is like series quotations . . . . sometimes, it makes you laugh, sometimes, it makes you cry, but most of the time, you don't get it, and yes, just as exactly like that, rolling up - side - down your eyes.♥

Hands On Experience

Tell me and I'll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I'll understand.♥ 
~ Benjamin Franklin ~

I hear and I forget, I see and I remember. I do and I understand.♥
~ Confucius ~

As they say, "Action speaks louder than words." Although learning from a show and tell, is exciting, still the best thing to learn of all comes from a, 'hands on experience.' Some one can say a thousand things, and chances are you'll forget them if their actions don't prove their words. On the other hand what someone does, you remember because those are actions, ---- actions are real, words are not always real ---- they could be lies.♥

Read Pause Reflect Learn Act

All spiritual growth comes from reading and reflection. 
By reading we learn what we did not know ---- 
By reflection we retain what we have learned.
~ Saint Isidore of Seville ~

Books contain thoughts. If these thoughts are clean, pure, uplifting, stimulating, and instructive in nature, we should pause upon them and suck all the life out of them. Read for five minutes ---- think for ten. "WHATEVER is worth doing is worth doing well." A clear, cheerful atmosphere of purity, that should be our guide. And then, when the thoughts of mind are strung up to action we should find nothing difficult of achievement. Read. Pause. Reflect. Learn. Act.♥

Life Is Now

Life is a goal, Achieve it. Every morning you are handed twenty four golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn't buy an extra hour. What will you do with this priceless treasure Remember, you must use it, as it is given only once. Once wasted you cannot get it back. Make everyday count. Create your own life and then go out and live it. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Live-Life-Love.♥ 

Life is a song ---- sing it.
Life is a game ---- play it.
Life is a challenge ---- meet it.
Life is a dream ---- realize it.
Life is a sacrifice ---- offer it.
Life is love ---- enjoy it.♥

~ Sai Baba ~

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.♥

~ Mother Teresa ~

Part and Parcel

If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart to. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally ---- not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love, and they are opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them. Sometimes things happen to you and at the time they may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests ---- whether they are events, illnesses or relationships ---- life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life, and the successes and downfalls you experience, create who you are ---- even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.♥ 

GIVE

♥ Giving One's Life ♥
~ John 12:24-26 ~

Your life is without a foundation, if in any matter, you choose on your own behalf. 
~ Dag Hammarskjold ~

You give but a little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
~ Kahlil Gibran ~

Giving all without expecting anything in return.♥

Inspire Me

Take it or Leave it. But, here's something to consider to . . . . Just think it over ---- it's all up to you . . . . 

"It's not enough to have a dream,
Unless you're willing to pursue it.
It's not enough to know what's right,
Unless you're strong enough to do it.
It's not enough to learn the truth,
Unless you also learn to live it.
It's not enough to reach for love,
Unless you care enough to give it."

Remember this, "You who are resolved to find a way for yourself will always find opportunities enough ---- but once you don't find them, You will make them."♥

~ Samuel Smiles, Paraphrased ~

Reflections

As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery. . . . we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness. Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosi

ty or registering wrongs. Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business. We cannot tell what may happen to us in the strange medley of life. But we can decide what happens in us ---- how we can take it, what we do with it ---- and that is what really counts in the end. We plant seeds that will flower as results in our lives, so best to remove the weeds of anger, avarice, envy and doubt . . . .
When you make people angry, they act in accordance with their baser instincts, often violently and irrationally. When you inspire people, they act in accordance with their higher instincts, sensibly and rationally. Bear in mind, anger is transient, whereas inspiration sometimes has a life-long effect. Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge now exists to make things better. Our identity is very closely associated with our thoughts and feelings. Realize that now, in this moment of time, you are creating. You are creating your next moment based on what you are feeling and thinking. That is what's real. It won't hurt you to love the heart hurt you, and never hurt the heart that loves you.♥

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Discovering Dancing

Dancing in the moonlight! . . . . I hope you dance . . . . To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak, but, still you can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart, for dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another.♥

On with the dance! let joy be unconfined ----
No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.♥

~ George Gordon, Lord Byron ~

The truest expression of a people is in its dance and its music. To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. Dance is delicate balance between perfection and beauty. The dance is a poem of which movement is a word. Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the souls' weather to all who can read it. Dancing can reveal all the mystery that music conceals, moving to the music without stepping on anyone's toes, pretty much the same as life. Music begins to atrophy when it departs too far from the dance. Socrates learned to dance when he was seventy because he felt that an essential part of himself had been neglected. Dancing is discovery . . . . discovery . . . . discovery!♥