Survive!

         Freedom is the central message of the cross. This freedom is not only from sin but also from meaninglessness, idleness and nothingness. Paano ba na-realize ang tunay na kahulugan ng freedom? We have to be free from those we have depended on. Hindi Malaya yung tao na sobrang dependent na kapag nawala ang isang taong malapit sa atin ay para na tayong mamamatay, na kapag nawala ang isang bagay parang hindi na tayo magus-survive.

         What do you say to yourself when you face grave problems? When people walk away from you? When people take away from you what you value, even their presence? How do you face all these?

          Gloria Gaynor popularized a song in the 70’s entitled “I Will Survive,” Mayroon tayong mensaheng maaaring makuha sa kanta nya.

      At first I was afraid I was petrified

      Kept thinkin’ I could never live without you by my side;

      But then I spent so many nights

      Thinkin’ how you did me wrong

       And I grew strong and I learned how to get along

       And now you’re back from outer space

       I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face

       I should have changed that stupid look

       I should have made you leave your key

       If I’d have known for just one second you’d be back to bother me

       Go on, now go, walk out the door

        Just turn around now

       ‘Cause you’re not welcome anymore

        Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye

        Do you think I’d crumble

        Did you think I’d lay down and die?

       

        Oh no, not I, I will survive

         Oh as long as I know how to love

         I know I’ll stay alive;

         I’ve got all my life to live,

         I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive,

         I will survive, hey, hey.

            Yan ang dapat nating sinasabi, di ba? Sa mga taong ayaw tayong mahalin- I will survive! Sa mga taong ayaw maging tapat sa atin at lagi tayong iniiwan-iwanan, I will survive! Kung ayaw ba sa atin, di huwag! Hindi yung “Mamamatay ako pag nawala ka sa aking buhay.” Hindi yung pagka umalis yung mahal nyo para na kayong nawalan ng ulo, puso at buhay. Why? Because God loves us and God is on our side.

        

             Maraming nawawala sa ating buhay. Nawawala ang bahay, trabaho, alahas. Minsan nawawala ang minamahal natin sa buhay. But what do Christians say? Ano’ng sasabihin natin? I WILL SURVIVE! Nilikha ako ng Diyos. I was designed to survive. Hindi yung nawala lang ang minamahal, hindi na ako magus-survive. Nawala lamang ang pangarap ko, hindi na ako magus-survive. That’s not the spirit of a Christian. And if a secular song can say “I will survive!,” how much more can a Christian say it?

Smile

        Another way to open up to people is to smile. Smile more often. You cannot always be happy but you can be cheerful. Do you know that there is such a thing as a ministry of comfort? We can comfort people just by smiling at them. Kaya lang sometimes we tend to be very selfish. We carry the world on our shoulders. We become obsessed sa nararamdaman nating mood. Nadadamay tuloy ang iba. Nalilimutan natin na may pananagutan din tayo na pasayahin ang ating kapwa. Binibigyan tayo ng Diyos ng mukha para ingiti sa kapwa. Makatutulong tayo para kung may mabigat man siyang nararamdaman o may problema ay maibsan. Maaari tayong magbigay ng comfort without even saying a word. Just smile.

       People who do not want to be disturbed do not smile. They are afraid that it might encourage people to come near them. Kaya inilalagay nila ang sarili sa parang isang fortress na may mga kanyon at matataas na pader. “Huwag kayong lalapit, babarilin ko kayo. Nakasara ang aking bakod, ayaw ko sa inyo. Leave me alone.” The greatest difficulty can come from people but the greatest fun and enjoyment can also come from people. The same heat that melts the wax harderns the clay. The same people who can bother us are also the same people who can help us. The same people that can bring you unhappiness sometimes are the same people that can bring you happiness.

       May kwento ng isang taong magpapakamatay. Tatalon na siya sa kung saan pero ang sabi niya, “May isang tao lang na ngumiti sa akin na makasalubong ko, hindi na ako magpapakamatay.” Buti na lang at may ngumiti kaya hindi natuloy ang kanyang pagpapakamatay. Kung kayo yung ngumiti na iyon, can you imagine what kind of ministration you were able to give that person? Pero kung kayo ang nakasalubong  nung tao at nang makita nyo, inirapan nyo pa, baka napadali ang pagtalon nya at isinama pa kayo. Kaya mahalaga yung ministry of smiling because you advertise your openness.