Avoid The Rush

For the first time, I tried making a video with my phone today; capturing myself rushing to an 8:00am appointment, while being hopelessly stuck in traffic (click video). Well, I was almost late, praise God I made it in the nick of time.

Most of us live a busy lifestyle. There's almost no time for anything; we keep on rushing. We rush to meet a deadline; we rush to work; we ask a supplier to do a rush order; we rush to the airport; and etc. Before we know it, we are stressed, and our health and family are affected.  Why do we rush?  Here are some culprits:

1. We like to be "Kings and Queens of Procrastination". A lot of us do things on the eleventh hour! We're adrenalin junkies doing the "Last 2 minutes", buzzer beater effort.  We often choose to enjoy first -- knowing that we'll suffer with the pressure. "I want to enjoy 30 more minutes of sleep" very well knowing that traffic will be terrible or "I want to go out with friends first" aware that the deadline's just around the corner.

2. We have this notion that we are more "Creative under Pressure." Well it took 6 days for God to create everything, and on the 7th day He rested -- and enjoyed the beauty of creation. God took His time. Beauty takes some time: the beauty of a well-detailed report; the beauty of a scholarly and well-researched thesis; the beauty of a well integrated graphic design; and many more works of art, beautiful art with ample time to create.

3. We think we have "The Ability to transform into Nocturnal Creatures". On the night before the deadline, we mutate into owls; as if sleeping is for the day (this is not in the context of those in the BPO business). We think, "I can do it all in just one sleepless night." Of course, when dawn comes and the hour of submission nears, we wished there was more time.

Let us take time and avoid the rush. Take time to pray -- and ask for strength and discipline to do the needed work, even if you don't feel like it yet. Prayer also helps you to meditate on what important stuffs to do first. Just do it! Start with the small and easy tasks. Before you know it you're on a roll and your momentum is unstoppable. Develop the "Now" habit. If you can do it now, why wait for later. Many of our problems can be solved in the next 5 minutes with a simple text, call or email.

"Complete it now, so that your eager willingness may be matched by your completion
of it out of what you have". (2 Cor. 8:11)

Christ is NOT Less Present Today

Christ is NOT less present today as He walked on earth 2,000 years ago. He is not less present in the Sacraments; He is fully alive! Through the Holy Spirit working in us, He inspires us to respond in faith. Even at the time of the Apostles, many heard Him, saw Him, ate with Him, and was healed by Him; yet did not believe -- even more, they shouted: crucify Him! Today, we hear Christ in the Liturgy of the Word; we see Christ through the priest and the community; we dine with Him through the Eucharist and becomes food for us; we are healed by prayers -- yet we fail to recognize that he is even ever more present and real today by sending the Holy Spirit! What is then required to recognize this truth? Faith.

A Constant Dialogue

If we choose, and so desire, using our freedom -- our lives can be a constant dialogue with the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit. St. Therese of Lisieux said, "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth". What could have led her to these words, if not for the realization of a communion with the Trinity, through a grace-filled life which allows man to "partake in the life of God" (cf. CCC 1997)?

A Marriage Lived in the Holy Spirit

The agape love of a husband and wife saturates the home -- it blesses the children and those who enter it. A Marriage lived in the Holy Spirit emits an aroma of Christ; reveals a vision of hope; reaches out to heal; and satisfies body and soul. "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord...". (Psalm 84:2)

So I Send You

No matter how far we travel for mission or how difficult our tasks, no one can surpass how far Jesus---the Eternal Logos, the Word---"traveled" to accomplish his mission, out of pure love, to save us. He who condescended from heaven; incarnated into human history; chose to be poor; obedient even in suffering and death; rose to raise us up with Him -- is unsurpassed, and is unsurpassable, as a missionary. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you" (John 20:21), implies that we too, are all called to mission -- to go the distance, according to the talents and abilities God has uniquely endowed us; to endure in faith despite the odds: all for the glory of God Who wills to save His children in love and freedom!