re.discover.ed

abstract spaces of my personal faith

[f-8th-blog]

What are we supposed to do if we are frightened? How do you summon courage? Other than acknowledging the fear and just jumping in. My ideal day would be waking up before the sun rises and going for a walk. Then a run. Then a bike ride. And reach the sun rise right at my swiftest pace, or right at the highest elevation I may transition myself to. Then pause. The sun will rise and I will be so grateful for having the courage to face then darkness before it. I bike, I run and I walk back to the starting point, and then feel in my heart it's just about right I start my day and go about my day the truest way I can to what I want it to be. It sounds like such a simple easy thing to do. But things are harder to do than what we imagine or say them to be. What if my past fears catch up with me? I. Can't rely on anyone to be there to walk me through everything. So I have to find the Braver side of me and just go after what I want, and pray, please stay with me.

[f-8th-blog]

Nothing is more practical than falling Love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide that will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you in joy and gratitude. Fall in Love, stay in Love and it will decide everything.

Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ 1907-1991

[f-8th-blog]

Fiat

Focus on the process, on the practice and not the goal. Find happiness in the practice or in everything you do. Then everything follows through. 

These were the words a dear friend had been suggesting to me in order for us to fully be at peace with what we do in life. It's very timely as I prepare myself to undertake a new way of being to arrive at the feeling I want to have for this year. 

I came across this reflection for the gospel reading of New Year's day. "The Child Jesus did not come as a response to her deep desire and longing but came as a gift and new creation of God.".

I realise that maybe the "end goal" or the "end product" shouldn't really be what we are thinking of as we pursue something we deem worth our time, effort and passion. Maybe we should focus on the process, focus on deepening our "YES" similar to how the Mother of God accepted God's invitation to be the Redeemer's mother. 

My mind has always been quite conflicted with the idea of making money or success the end goal. I question the way people only look for this in life. I have always felt there should be something deeper, or more meaningful than what is created by man. I don't think life should be just about acquiring the riches of the world for what then is it to be used for? To be exulted in front of others and boasted about? I think life should have a deeper purpose than that. 

I couldn't quite make sense of the idea that I had to be a "great person". It didn't seem to connect with our culture's craving of making the most money possible or achieving success in a career. For the past months I've been pondering what exactly should I hold on to, or dearly meditate and focus my actions on that I may continue to feel refuelled, inspired and motivated? It wasn't money or success. Now I understand that there is a creeping sensation in believing I have a purpose for this world, which I believe God has sent me to deliver or become. 

As Oprah Winfrey has said "The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you intend to be".

Instead of focusing on the idea that yes, I want to be a great architect, yes I want to contribute to the social and cultural fabric of my generation, yes I want to be an artist, and the list goes overwhelmingly. I should simply focus on my fiat. Yes, God please make me an instrument of Your Will.

May I be like Mary, Theotokus, or God-bearer. Not literally that I may find in my womb Your Son, but perhaps bring unto this earth Your Spirit. 

I want to recognise and fully immerse myself in what I feel draws me closer to God. Though I may not clearly understand the path I am meant to take, let me live with a spirit of joy and enthusiasm in my heart to discover You in what I can give to this world. 

Readings that inspired me:  Saint Ignatius of Loyola's method for daily examen: stillness Lk 2: 16-20

[f-8th-blog]

Just like them old stars, I see that you've come so far, to be right where you are. How old is your soul?

[metropolissalonar-blog]

[twloha]

"You get in life what you have the courage to ask for." - Oprah Winfrey

(via The Motivated Type)

[f-8th-blog]

I believe in this.

[f-8th-blog]

#thankful

1. Had a glimpse of my extroverted self, playing around and having fun in the gym. What made the difference from other times? New people around? Consciously deciding, and reinforcing it by inviting others? 2. Lunch time call with Lorenzo makes me kilig (thrilled or excited in Filipino) 3. SMART CORE circuit and Les Mills Body Jam with Valerie, Ry, El, Aimee, Nikka! 

But on the other hand, have to find a way to control hanging out with people. I love their company but I have other things to complete in a day.

[f-8th-blog]

#word

Brothers and sisters: You are God's building.  According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,  for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.  Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Corinthians 3:9 

[f-8th-blog]

#thankful

1. We held a Mcdonald's birthday party for our highly respected and quite renowned 52-year old principal architect. Hella fun! 2. Played with a three year old today, and hey. Who knew I'd still be able to connect with toddlers 3. Heartache to heartache. I remember thinking then, shouldn't I feel this greater passion for whoever I'm seeing? And I am very lucky, to have experienced that instant down-from-the-gut-feeling, as Manson puts it, FUCK YES. & we are still lovrs.

// Don't know what that FUCK_YES is about? Check out this incredible article that will make your life and decision-making process simpler.  Mark Manson, http://markmanson.net/fuck-yes //

[f-8th-blog]

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalms 23

Have no fear. Everything's going to be alright.

[f-8th-blog]

Why Generation Y Yuppies Are Unhappy

Lucy is part of Generation Y, the generation born between the late 1970s and the mid 1990s. She's a unique brand of yuppie, one who thinks they are the main character of a very special story. Only issue is this one thing: Lucy's kind of unhappy....

Article by Tim Urban, waitbutwhy.com

Really.  Let's learn to not expect, Generation Y.  And as Mary J. Blige puts it "Family Affair" 

We don't need, don't need, no haters Jut try to love one another We just want y'all have a good time No more drama in your life Work real hard to make a dime If you got beef, your problem, not mine,  Let's leave all the BS outside

And besides shaking our booteey to MJB:  Let's work for that dime like woah, and have faith.

[f-8th-blog]

It really felt like that. Not necessarily for one person, but just for the idea of rejection. The idea of something not working out. My heart was a deflated balloon I kept hidden and was so wary to let anyone near it. It was awful. I told someone today that I felt that it's truly difficult to rely on anyone, really. I told her I'd rather sometimes not rely and so I won't get disappointed if ever we didn't make it through whatever outcome I hoped for. And here, this comic tells us to allow ourselves to be vulnerable. Really. We shouldn't just be vulnerable. It takes an incredible human being to be able to see when a wary and and tentative person really just needs extra patience and love to twinkle again after breaking. This can happen when we're vulnerable. But it won't work out if we do not seek to be helped, or are personally ready to work things out. There should be a semblance of inner peace, a condition of wanting to let people in and understanding that is an ideal point to be at any time soon. A confident person can show so much love to any broken person and nothing can happen for either until the latter realizes enough is enough. It's time to let the happy in.

[f-8th-blog]

"One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. "

Psalms 24 Our communities continue to grow ever more narcissistic it seems especially with the advent of the whole selfie culture and the magnified presence of material possessions and the need to appear physically attractive due to online social media. Really, all of us have had a part in this. But I truly try to not be so vain. Perhaps more of understand that life when decorated is not necessarily a manifestation of vanity, but can be understood as symbols which intend messages for us. How does vanity take us away from Jesus' teachings? It is because we put ourselves in the center of our lives, as if we were to idolize the self. Another part of the gospel that was striking: "The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to (this) mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. " Well Lord, I need my faith to grow and I need to understand more.

[f-8th-blog]

11.10 of men and bishops

According to the first reading of today, how men and bishops should be: "on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents." Are they? Are bishops that way? I don't even know exactly who and how the bishops of the Philippines are. Is it true, men should not marry more than once? And is this because if we do not honor our first promise to another, then its all for naught is disrespectful to Him? Is it considered a factor which diminishes the absolute meaning of marriage?

[f-8th-blog]

Dwelling Place

I remember I didn't want this to be an avenue to personal memories or experiences but. I think that was my fear of being judged by whoever out there. I really feel constricted so I'll shoot for now as long I feel it is appropriate. For the mass today, the gospel was about preparing and keeping our bodies as a temple for Jesus and His Spirit. I feel that other than physically keeping our bodies clean and fit, what's important firstly to be able to shelter such a Great Spirit within us. It is important to listen. Listen to what God has had to say through bible reading. This is what I've been feeling the need to do. I have been feeling the need to understand my faith. Can we really call ourselves Followers Id we do not initiate completing our knowledge of His messages for us? I want to evaluate this. I want to know God. To do so, I have to listen in every sensory-aspect metaphorically speaking.

[f-8th-blog]

#faith | street children

Jesus here specifically says we must love our neighbors as we love ourselves ... Presently, we have it as a norm that street children are shunned and knocked away. Is this how we would treat ourselves? - - - Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 10:25-37. There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

[f-8th-blog]

never look back

Even for family, do not look back if you are to proclaim the kingdom of God. "let the dead bury their dead" -- such strong words and it sounds like it means we must be stubborn in our ways of seeking God vs being there for our parents. Does this not go against the "Honor your mother and father" commandment? Or are we to prioritize the first law above all? It is so far-fetched or indirect a way, but I hope He will consider those who seek their passion, seek their purpose, and hopefully we discover God, feel His grace and let it shine onto others through our practice. - - - Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9:57-62. As Jesus and His disciples were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."