Opportunities

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"

-Morgan Freeman as The Almighty God (from the film: Evan Almighty)


I don't care about critiques who said that the film sucks. That line alone by Morgan Freeman, who played as God and disguised as an old waiter in a diner, have moved me and made me realized some points in life that we sometimes miss. It made me ponder and reflect on things that we, people forget. It was so significant, that in the end I just said "Oo nga noh?!"

Some of you who have completed the 9 mornings of the traditional simbang gabi, have prayed and wished for something or some kind of a miracle. Or something divine. Or most likely, a sign.
Some offered prayers and some just said "thanks" for the Big Guy above us. But haven't we realized that waking up each day is already an answered prayer?

Each morning is already a blessed opportunity. Living is an opportunity.

Wow.

I was so amazed and it makes me smile. Alot. :)

Bicycles (Bisikleta)

What's with bicycles?

Who among you who have wished for a bicycle when you were still a kid?

I did.

Someone already dead made me remember the first bicycle I had. Her name's Mariannet Amper, the kid from Davao who took her life. Yes, you've already heard the story.

Minutes ago, i read an old news article about her. And I read, that like many of us, she did wish for a bicycle. As a kid, my reason for wishing one was because it's "uso". It's a status quo when you have a bicycle at home. It's like having your own car in a little less like a child's comprehensions.

My father bought one with two little wheels at the rear. But it wasn't for me; it was for my older brother. Sabi ni Pa, mag share na lang daw kami. At first I was disheartened by that decision because I was the one wishing for it for the whole time and not knowing, that my brother wished it for himself as well. And back then, we can't afford to have two bicycles.

For the parents, bicycle stands for responsibilities. For riding one, makes one responsible of himself/herself and to his/her bicycle. It's also one of the few moments were a parent readying themselves from the process of "letting go" their child/children.

For us, kids, perhaps bicycle symbolizes freedom. Freedom to go away from home just a couple of blocks, exploring new places, new people, new rules that differs from what we used to. Freedom to learn. Or creating new ways to let out the "other" kid in us. Or freedom to have a respite when experiencing something a kid doesn't understand yet or wanting to have a little break from, maybe, domestic violence.

I wished that little Ms. Mariannet Amper had that bicycle. She could have used it in so many ways. Perhaps she could have used it days before she thought of suicide, riding far far away while the wind swept and dried her tears.

If she could have given just one day to experience being a child again, free from anything, perhaps there could have been a tiny hope. Just one day.

How many of her still out there wishing the same thing this season?

Glint

CAUTION: A VERY EMO REMARK COMING RIGHT AT YOU.


Indeed.

Oo nga eh. At first, it's a difficult thing to accept:

That you'll meet someone you love...

...but who would never ever going to love you in return...


...despite of being the most comfortable person to love with.

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Now back to regular programming.