God, Happiness and Life

Ayat was ba ck in the Philippines for 2 weeks. Ayat is a friend from way, way back. We shared so ma ny things, little financial secrets, and she sharing bf things. We have not seen each other since 5 years ago. So, I get excited every time she announces that she's coming home. There's a chance, we can get together. Unfortunately, again this time, she headed straight home to her town in Roxas City. Anyway, I am still thankful that she managed to give me a landline phone call.

This is my son's high school batch mate. He was so proud to tell and show me how talented a dancer Byron is. I am sure you'd agree with him.

I think I have mentioned elsewhere that when I was much younger, my mother and I had ambivalent feelings toward each other. I found her too domineering, to the point of ignoring any reason from my end. On the other hand, she found me stubborn, too smart for my own comfort. She demanded an unquestioning loyalty from me and the rest of my siblings particularly when she and my father decided to part ways. Through all those years, I harbored ill feelings especially those times when she proved herself unyielding, lacking of grace and understanding. But all that is changed now. Looking at her now, I think life's recent blows of up's and downs, have turned her to be more sacrificing and devoted to all her children. I have come to come to terms with who she is, and why she did the things she did. It is very clear to me now that my mo ther just wanted to be a good person. She, being an orphan at a very young age, and herself lacking parental affection set her mind to bring up he...

One of my sons is in Bombay,India and attending a three-week technical training for a networking product. He recently moved from a customer related service job from a large telco to this company which is into network software product marketing and support. Before his move, he mentioned about feeling his career was not getting anywhere because his job at that time although it paid well, kept him stagnant for almost a year. He waited but whatever it was, never came. And so he decided to move on. All I advised him before he made the switch was, "wherever you feel happy and comfortable, that's where you should be. That is all that matters". Before he left, he seemed enthusiastic about the job, beaming with pride that he was selected as one of the trainees. I am praying that he is finally where he deserves to be.

This is another place I dream of visiting. Actually, the photo bears the replica of the Eiffel Tower. It's a souvenir item given by a friend who was there recently. She tells me that specially at night, this amazing man-made structure oozes with life and light and when you're there on top, gives a fantastic and surreal feeling of giddiness. I can only imagine.

Death is nature's way of telling you to slow down. -A.E. Newman Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other. -Francis Bacon Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. -Bishop Hall Sleep is a death; oh, make me try By sleeping what it is to die, And as gently lay my head On my grave as now my bed! -Sir Thomas Browne O eloquent, just, and mightie Death! whom none could advise, thou hast persuaded; what none hath dared. -Sir Walter Raleigh Tis after death that we measure men. --James Barron Hope Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives. --A. Sachs Men fear death, as if unquestionably the greatest evil, and yet no man knows that it may not be the greatest good. --William Mitford Death--the last sleep? No, it is the final awakening. --Walter Scott To ...

My Uncle was buried yesterday, Sunday at 2:30 in the afternoon, local date and time. His funeral rite was administered by someone who is called a deacon. A deacon is: " a clergyman who assists the bishop and priests. He is ordained, not to the priesthood but to service. He has a three-fold role of service: - Charity in which he is of service to the community. - Word in which he proclaims the Gospel and preaches. - Liturgy in which he assists at Mass, is an ordinary minister of the Eucharist and baptism, witnesses marriages, leads the community in prayer, especially funeral services and the Liturgy of the Hours. The deacon finds his identity not in what he does, but in who he is. Deacons minister in many different settings from the traditional parish to prisons, ...