Do Not Be Too Close To People

       Be close enough, but far enough. Alam yan ng Diyos. Kaya nga pati biyenan pinaglalayo nang kaunti.

       Genesis 2:24 “A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife…”

In other words, huwag paghalu-haluin yan, huwag pagsama-samahin kasi magulo. Kasi familiarity breeds contempt.

       Yung sobrang closeness sa tao, especially kaibigan nyo, makes you overdependent sa kanila. Hindi na kayo makapag-library nang hindi siya kasama. Hindi na kayo makapag-mall na hindi siya kasama, para na siyang anino ninyo.

       Hindi ganyan ang design ng Diyos para sa atin. Kailangan mayroon tayong distance. Lahat ay nasa tamang timpla. Kailan nyo nalalaman that you’re already too close? Yung hindi na kayo maka-function at hindi na kayo mabuhay nang wala ang kapwa. Dahil nalilimutan nyo na nandyan pa ang Diyos. Papaano kung wala na iyon, miss na miss mo na, hirap na hirap ka na, balisang-balisa ka na, e di hindi ka na free? In other words, you are no longer a planet with your own orbit. You have become a satellite. Kung saan pumunta yung planeta, kasunod ka. Wala kang sariling mundo, wala kang sariling landas. That’s not what God wants people to be. Dapat mayroon kang sariling pagkatao.

        A person who has no self-respect is not an interesting person or is not a respectable person and therefore is not a lovable person. Kaya nakikita nyo yung mga martir habang nagpapakamartir-martir, lalong dinudusta at inaapi. Kasi ina-advertise nila na “Pwede mo akong apihin dahil martir ako. Hindi ako naninindigan and I’ll never walk out of your life kahit mo ako gawing basahan.” Yun ang mga ginagawang basahan.

        Ang tao ay nilikha sa wangis ng Diyos. Dapat lang na maging kagalang-galang. At para ka igalang ng kapwa, igalang mo muna ang iyong sarili. Pahalagahan mo muna ang iyong sarili. Do not be a slave of anyone.

        I am not telling you not to love. But do not love people more than God teaches us. I’m not telling you not to care and not to develop relationships---yes, do those! But do not be dependent on people for your happiness. You can be happy in the company of people but you should also learn to be happy on your own. Natutuwa tayo na may kasama ka sa ibang pagkakataon, pero may mga moments din na we appreciate being alone so we can gather ourselves, we can find and charter our compass and bearings and we can find serenity.

        If I were to choose just one word to describe the message of Christ, it would be freedom. Pinapalaya ang tao.  Pinapalaya mula sa kapangyarihan ng kasalanan, bisyo at pagnanasa.

        One of the greatest gifts of God, next to life, is freedom. Being free is man’s right; it is also man’s duty to himself. Ang tanong: Bilang Kristiyano, maliban sa Diyos, mayroon pa bang ibang bumibihag sa inyo? Who conquers you? Who imprisons you? Who oppresses you? Tayo ba’y tau-tauhan lang ang ibang tao? We should declare freedom. Set yourself free from people. Keep yourself free from people.