Starbucks anyone? September 28, 2008

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.  When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.  He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.  He shook the jar lightly.  The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.  He then asked the students again if the jar was full…they agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course, the sand filled up everything else.  He asked once more if the jar was full.  The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”  The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the Empty space between the sand.  The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.  The golf balls are the important things – God, family, children, health, friends, and Favorite passions — things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.  The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.  The sand is everything else — the small stuff.  “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.  The same goes for life.  If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So…

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.  There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. “Take care of the golf balls first — the things that really matter.  Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked”.  It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

Kape tayo!

Why the trees are silent July 28, 2008

An old man and his little granddaughter were sitting in the park.  The weather was sunny, the air was still.  They were both looking at the trees when the little girl said, “Grandpa, can those trees talk?”.

The old man nodded, “you bet they can.”“

“But, grandpa, they never do.”

“You’re right,” said the old man, they never do.”

“Why not, grandpa?”

The old man smiled, “They’re too busy.

The child stared at him, “Too busy, grandpa? What do they do?”

The old man paused for a moment.  “You see honey,” he said, “Those trees give honor to God.  They stand there and lift up their arms and praise God.  That’s what they do all day – and all night.”

The child frowned, then smiled, then she nodded, and simply said, “Hmmm, isn’t that something!”

Yes that was really something isnt it?  Those trees are really busy that it makes me realized that it was Sunday a few hours ago.  But I didn’t had the chance to visit HIM… attended Mass I mean.  I know it is my obligation as a Catholic, my bad really.  I guess these past few months I was too busy with everything — and maybe even with nothing.  Too busy with work, too busy with friends, too busy with stuff, too busy with my so called life… just simply busy enough to always forgot.  Sometimes I do asked myself “Am I just to busy or maybe I am just keeping away?”  Well, I have this thing that whenever I am there and talking to Him, I can’t help myself crying while praying.  Yes! Silly me but that’s what I do.  Seeing me is like two things, it’s either you’ll say what’s with her? Or feel sorry for her [Me].  

Only He knows what’s inside my heart…   

Why go to Church? July 25, 2008

Here is a Question:  Can I be a Christian without belonging to a Church?

The Answer: Yes, it is possible.  It is something like being

a student who will not go to school… a soldier who will not join an army… a citizen who does not pay taxes or vote… a salesman with no costumers… an explorer with no base camp… a seaman on a ship without a crew… a businessman on a desert island… an author without readers… a guitar player without an orchestra… a parent without a family… a basketball player without a team… a scientist who does not share findings… a bird without a nest…

The Church exist for those  outside it.  Dont stay away from the Church because it has so many hypocrites.  There’s always room for one more.  The Church is not made up of people who are better than the rest, but of people who want to become better than they are.

 off a church bulletin board

Playing the Peace game July 13, 2008

 An elderly man watched some six and seven yrs old at play, and asked,”what are you playing?”

“War,” they said.

So he told them, “How can anyone be so stupid as to play war?  You all surely know how horrible war is.  Why dont you play peace instead?”

The children stopped, put their heads together, discussed something among themselves, then looked puzzled and finally ran out of words.  One of them then asked the elderly man, “Grandpa, how do we play peace?  We don’t know the game.”

 

I don’t know either; play the game “peace” I mean.  With that I just can’t help thinking of what happened last week at work.  Maybe even my colleagues don’t have any idea of what the game “Peace” is all about.  It’s like everyone is right and no one admits being wrong.  I asked myself now, am I insisting in just being right and not just simply admitting that I can be wronged once in a while?  Am I too proud to admit mistakes?  Maybe I am or maybe I’m not.  I really don’t know. 

The past weeks at work is indescribable, “toxic”… too busy in planning and playing the game “war”.  Trying to outweigh each other, too busy finding faults than emphasizing good work.  We work together so how come we can’t be fair with one another?

Sometimes it’s hard to be human and not knowing how to be one.

People are like Carts July 13, 2008

Carts, carts, carts, the roads are full of carts.  High carts, low carts.  Elegant, newly painted carts.  Rich luxurious carts.  Rickety carts.  Squeaky carts complaining with each turn of the wheels.  Carts piled high with trash and rubbish.  Carts filled wit briers and brush.  Carts full of flowers and vegetables.  Frilly carts.  Sombre carts.  Carts loaded with lumber and stone.  Carts full of rich black earth.  Abandoned carts.  Carts worn out in service.  Repaired carts.  Carts broken and crushed by overloadings.  Carts rusted with disuse.  Slow carts, soiled, neglected carts.  Neat, trim carts.  Carts cramped and uncomfortable.  Spacious and comfortable carts.  Emergency carts.  work carts.  Pleasure carts.  splendid carts that travel noiselessly and unnoticed, healing ointments.  Carts, carts, carts, the roads are full of carts …

what cart are you?