Lunes, Oktubre 31, 2011

"Thank You"

…Thank You…
By; Jun-Jun

Meeting you is such a blessing from God.
Honestly, I was really nervous but I felt glad.
All of my hesitations really went wrong
‘cause I found you amazing with personality so strong.

Meeting you is one of a kind experience
Never will I forget it ‘til the end of my existence.
Now as you go back home, I just want to say “Thank You.”
Thank you for meeting a wonderful person like you.

Thank you for the chance of expressing my thoughts and ideas.
Thank you for sharing me your time as it went so fast.
Thank you for our healthy religious discussions
In which we share God through our diff’nt faith expressions.

Thank you for accepting and respecting me.
Thank you for that kind of love you showed upon me.
You are indeed an example of incomparable kindness
That is definitely rooted from our Creator’s greatness.

As you go home, keep my prayers for your family and you.
I know that God will never abandon and will never forget you.
Your humble heart will always be an example for me
Not only today but until the end of eternity.

In the end, I just want you to know that we will all wait.
We will wait for your come back even it takes a long date.
Again, thank you for the love that you have brought
especially for the lessons that you have taught.
Date; September 28, 2011
           Urdaneta City, Pangasinan

 
 

"A Strive for Excellence"


“A Strive for Excellence”
(A Reflection Paper on the Movie, 3 Idots)

          “One in a million”, if there is a phrase that will describe the movie “3 Idiots”, I think this is it. Despite of the fact that it is an Indian movie and it is made in the Hindi language, I still appreciate the concept, themes, and other factors that transcribed in the film. I was really inspired on how the directors and producers of such film presented the message which really touched the reality not only in India but also to some nations in which discrimination and ideal concepts prevail. Personally, while watching the said film I realized many things which are in accordance with myself not only as a student but most especially as an existing human being.
          First and foremost, I realized that success can not only be gained through books nor scholastic papers. In the movie, there is the character of “Chatur” a very bookish student himself in which he memorize and avail all the things given and presented in his books. In contrast to him is Ranju, a typical young boy who kept on contradicting the ideas of his professors and who kept on bullying his classmates especially
Chatur. The movie, through the character of Ranju, made me realize that life is not all about the things that you have read or acquired through scholastic papers. I was inspired by the statement of Ranju in which he said that, “Always strive for excellence and success will chase you.” I realized that life is all about the decisions that you make everyday even if what kind of person you are, or ideas be it is still on your decisions to continue life and to always strive for the best. Secondly, I realized that man is not limited on his own concepts and beliefs. As I exist day by day, I often observe myself being limited on my own ideals and creeds. Just like Ranju, I am also a very idealistic person. Sometimes, my idealistic character leads me in disagreement with my fellowmen. However, after watching the movie, I realized that life is not limited in my own scheme. There are many times in which I must also accept the realities of the world even if it is not in accordance with my own views. I need to because if will not I will never attained the true knowledge and wisdom of life. In attaining success and excellence, I believe that I should not be limited with my own self. Lastly, I realized that, being knowledgeable and smart does not make you an invincible person. Ranju is considered to be the genius in their school, the International College of Engineering. But despite of that fame and honor, Ranju remained to be a humble and down to earth person. He did not forget his friends and his own identity and that made him an ideal person. He did not make himself an outcast to his friends and I think that is the real application of knowledge. To be honest, there are many times in my life in which I tend to be “superman”. I always put myself in the pedestal over the others. As such, from the movie I learned to be always humble and down to earth. I knew that in myself, I am not the greatest and even if I am the one, I still do not have the right to boast nor to be so much proud of myself.
          In the end, I realized that the true essence of being excellent cannot be seen in such awards and achievements that you attained. But the true meaning of excellence is on how you manage to be yourself not only for yourself per se but most especially for others despite of the many citations and medals that you have attained. Excellence is being earned, being worked hard and being applied. The movie created a big impact not only in my eyes but also to my consciousness as an idealistic student. As I end my essay, I want to impart a statement that was said to me by my friend who is actually a priest. He said, “Ang pagiging magaling ay hindi lamang nakikita sa mga librong iyong nabasa o naisulat ngunit ang pagiging magaling ay kung paano mo isinabuhay ang iyong sarili para sa iba at para sa Diyos.”
  

Linggo, Oktubre 9, 2011

Preface


The Concept of Love
I believe in the concept of love. That undeniable release of emotion that requires and consumes every part of the human soul, a belief that has come through different experiences. The blessing of parents who love each other unconditionally, older friends finding love as they meet their soul mates and begin a life together, and my own brief opportunities of love that I have had the undeserving opportunity to experience.
            The idea of love permeates outwards so thoroughly that it can, without exception, take responsibility for every good human act ever performed. How many organizations have been started after the loss of a loved one, or lives changed in the attempt to help those we love? To love requires the full application of humankind's internal resources. The ability to state in one's head and believe that, “I know somebody loves me,” grants a feeling of peace and security unavailable by any other means. Life becomes more full and exponentially easier to live. The day begins with a smile and ends with a gratified sigh of relief.
            In all its complexities, loves is the basest, simplest, and inherently human emotion to experience, from the moment we leave the womb and feel our mothers warm embrace, to having a child of our own, we come to learn that love has so many shades and aspects.           
Love is the conduit to the better side of human nature, a side that the entire world would benefit from if it would just come out of its deep dark hole(Aquinas, 1867, p. 56). Luckily for us, there are those willing to share their love with others and each day that hole grows less dark. I do not presume to know even a fraction of the mystery that is love, but from my perspective, love is all beauty, all divine, and all powerful; a morphing, growing fire that will eventually consume the entire world in its flames.



DANILO


What is Love (Part XVI)

Love is a very definitive word…

Love means sacrifice, giving up your valuable life, time, money, etc, to make someone happy. The sacrificial attribute of love is demonstrated when a young man runs to rescue the woman he loves from being raped at gun-point and ends up being shot.
Love is one of the shortest words in the vocabulary of the English language, yet it's so potent, so vast, so much so that giving sufficient definition and description to it will require a lot of effort.
Love is a strong emotional attachment to someone. It is the strongest feeling and conviction that your soul is intertwined with that of the other person. Love is one soul living in two body. It is that magnet that draws you closer to someone and glues you to them.
Love listens to you with a patient endurance and speaks to you with a kind voice. It looks at you with compassionate eyes and touches you with a caring hand.
Love is that rare virtue that shows kindness and care to the one who is not deserving of it.
Love is the virtue that finds a good reason to forgive every wrong-doing. Love is that rare trait that appreciates the immortal truth that all human beings are not infallible and are therefore liable to err. It overlooks the frailties of the other person and helps them to surmount them.
Love is the fountain of strength. It is the force that will not stop you from being happy for your neighbor when they are happy. Conversely, love will make you sad when they sad. It gives you the sense to be with people in bad times and in good times.
Love is the bond that cannot be broken. Love is the deepest insight you have into people which makes you accept them the way they are without making effort to change them into a different people.
Love is the surest shield that guarantees security. It assures you that people will always be with you come rain or sunshine. It fills you with emptiness when they are away. It agitates your heart to long to be with them at all times. Love puts your mind at peace.
Love is being in the vehicle together as you journey into the future. It is the joy of working together. Love is the influence that helps us motivate and inspire each other as we strive to achieve our loftiest dreams.
Love means giving. A giver of love strips himself of comfort to ensure that the heart desire of the other person is met. Love gives clothing to the one who is naked; food to the one who is hungry; shelter to the homeless, comfort to the one who is sorrowful; it lifts the soul of the one who is depressed. Love shares, it gives and takes as well. It is the sunshine that smiles on the sad face of a frustrated soul.
Love is not ashamed of the condition of the other person. It has no problem embracing the man in tattered clothes. Love is not ashamed of removing worms from the wounds of a sick man. It has no problem wiping out tears from an ugly face.
Love is the source of life; it is the strongest power on earth. You find peace in loving and you should love at all times.

What is Love (Part XV)


Love simply gives for the joy of Giving

"We 'love' another in order to get something ourselves....There can be no greater mistake than that, for love is incapable of asking for anything." –(Bottke, 1991, p. 21).
What do you think love is?
Does love demand that another person give himself or herself up for you? Is love jealous? Does love ask another person to prove to you that he or she loves you? Does love expect that another should listen to your anger, your complaints, and your judgments? Are you being loving when you take responsibility for another's feelings? Are you being loving when you are being a martyr? Are you being loving when you physically harm another - even if it is in the name of love?
In fact, aren't all of the above what love is not?
Love gives for the pure joy of giving - whether it is time, caring, understanding, compassion, kindness, help, money, gifts, compliments, and so on. Love is the energy that flows into you from Spirit when your heart is open. It fills you so that you don't need anything from anyone, and then it flows out to others. Love is what you joyfully do to care for yourself, fully embracing the sacred privilege of taking loving care of yourself - of your feelings, your health, your environment, your safety and security, and your self of worth and self-esteem Love sees what needs to be done and does it with no outcome in mind other than the joy of helping another. Love never has an agenda, as real love "is incapable of asking for anything."
Are you "loving" another to get something for yourself? "There can be no greater mistake than that."
Why can there be no greater mistake than that? Because whatever it is you are doing is not love. You are completely missing what love is. And in trying to "love" another to get something for yourself, you will always be disappointed. Your relationships will not work because they work only when there is love.
How do you reach a point where you don't need anything from another - where you are so filled up with love within that you just want to offer it? How do you heal the emptiness within that is so needy of love?
By learning how to fill yourself with love, how to overflow with love like a glass of water so filled to the brim that it is overflowing.
This will never happen from trying to get love from another.
There is only one way I know of to become filled with love, and that is to open your heart to learning - with your spiritual guidance - how to be loving to yourself.
You have to start with yourself, since it is only when you are filled with love that you have love to offer another. When you deeply desire to learn to be loving to yourself, your heart will open and you will start to receive love and wisdom from your Higher Self. You will be taught what loving yourself means, what thoughts to think and actions to take that are loving to you. As you do this, you will become filled with love and discover that you don't actually need to get love from another.
When you learn to love yourself and fill yourself with love, you will discover the great joy and fulfillment in giving love - giving with no agenda attached.


What is Love (Part XIV)

Love is simply letting God to reign in your life...
Love is a combination of feelings and experiences connected to an awareness of likeness. The word love can pertain to an array of distinct moods, states, and viewpoints, spanning from basic gratification to immense relational attraction. The range of meanings, mixed with the complexity of the emotions involved, makes love abnormally hard to describe, in comparison to other emotion states. I believe love is a supernatural force that connects different types of people together. It inspires, evokes, transforms, motivates, and brings out the best and worst in all people. It can be a blessing and a curse. It sees beyond a person's quirks and sees the best in them. It goes beyond hatred and discord. It defies logic because it is an elusive energy. It connects a mother to a child. It is the invisible glue between families across the world. It keeps a loyal husband coming back to his wife of thirty years. It brings together good friends.
The greatest relationship we can have is with the unseen force which it was created by. He is God. Love forever binds us to Him. We cannot escape from it. Gravity can't keep us away.
1 Corinthians 13
God’s Word says as follows; 1- If I speak in the tongues of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. 2- If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3- If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4- Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5- It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. 6- Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7-It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. 8- Love never fails, but where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9- For we know in part and prophesy in part, 10- but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11- When I was child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12- Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13- And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. God describes love as the most essential force ever created by Him. The kind of love He talks about in the Word is agape love. This love is higher than knowledge, and any gifts a person may have. If you do a good deed toward someone, it won't mean anything if you do it without love. In the end, God wants only your heart. That is where true love is. Without love you can possess many talents and skills, but be empty inside. Agape love is unconditional. It loves even when there is no love coming back. It loves without conditions and limits. Gods love surpasses all understanding. Why? In some of our minds, loving someone without condition is not rational. In the world we are taught to love people who love us. It is not normal in this world to love someone who shows none. To love God's way means freedom. You free yourself of anger, hatred, resentment, jealousy, and frustration. Letting love in means letting life in. That is love.