Always My Favorite Season!

Advent is one of the most skipped event of the year. In the Philippines, as early as the first day of September, everybody would outdo each other in being the first to greet Merry Christmas. The lights and glitters, the brimming greens and reds pulls you fast forward to the 25th of December!

And what about Advent? In this fast-pace, exciting filled time, this "waiting" time is deemed as boring.

But Advent for me is the most exciting season of the year.  In fact, the "waiting" time is so inviting, I always get giddy at the coming of the first week of December.

One December 25th in my high school years, when all the fiery sounds of the firecrackers were slowly being drowned by the restful silence,  I went to my room and prayed. It dawned on me that the first Christmas was in fact a silent, boring, bland, probably tiresome night (from the busy Census). A modern Christmas is very different from that "Silent Night." It was not special at all. It was important only for a few.

I thought of how Christmas has been too commercialized in our time. There was nothing wrong with the festive atmosphere, but there is the danger of pulling us away from the highlight of the celebration. Perhaps that was why God's genuine love clothe in simplicity for us to be truly focused on what matters most.

So when I learned that Advent is the time to wait and to prepare for Christmas, I thought that was a very important time to make oneself ready for Christmas. The waiting time did not appear too long and boring. It appealed to me as a chance to participate in meeting the birth of Christ with meaning.

Just in case we are still asking if we can be a worthwhile gift for Jesus on His birthday, well we have Advent to prepare for that.

**by the way, the year after that one fateful Christmas eve, firecrackers were completely banned from Davao City. One of my major answered prayer! Finally, I get to enjoy what it means to *truly* experience a Silent Night, Holy Night - were all is calm ;D

Never Let Go

Find me,

In the searing flare

of my untamed memory.

Search me

In the wonder conquering heights

Of mine ruthless hope.

Look for me!

When I search for you;

When I find my self looking for you,

Run after me

And never let me go.

inspired from the 1st to 4th verses of Psalm 23 

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me"

remember when you have been in your lowest moment, when you can't seem to rely even of your own strength. that time when all you'd do is just stare into space hoping to squeeze more hope? the poem is a pleading for God to take charge when everything else fades into hopelessness. 

Left Loose

This string that binds us

is left loose.

The string

that binds us,

is worn out brittle.

This string,

This

string,

if tied firmly,

held tightly,

finds me separated

from you.

This string

that binds us,

loose and brittle

I leave be.


**sometimes the best way to preserve a withering friendship is by letting things as they are...