Value of Life

While preparing for a weekend getaway in a nearby province to be posted in my December blog, I got stocked when local and national government warned people to be ready with “typhoon Pablo” which will fall in Mindanao. Day after, the City mayor’s office of Davao ordered suspension of classes to both elementary and secondary, and reporting to various government and private offices were not necessary. It feels like a calamity holiday, doesn’t sound good. 

December 4, 2012, an unforgettable December tragedy happened. How should I described it, flashing wind, heavy rain, floods, overflowing dams, fallin’ trees, shattering houses, lost communication signals, no electricity, missing people, dying people, dead people. A sorrowful day that should’ve been a nightmare to all the victims. One day, happy, next day, grief. The wheel of life.

See? We don’t own our lives, neither the circumstances. I was once asked whether I’m ready or not to die, without thinking over I said “no, too young to die”. Most people would sure answer the same, who would like to die, anyway? No one. Then I realized it wasn’t really the answer to the question, who are we to decide when and how we’ll end. Humans! Prepared insurances, but never prepared his utmost self. 

Life. 

In just a snap might be gone. How can we value it? We are surrounded with World’s greatest modernization- money, bars, casino, internet, jewels, gadgets, luxurious stuffs, such a lame. What so into these that make people forget the importance of existence, the value of living. Short-term happiness. Worldly achievements. Satisfaction. Did we ever ask ourselves if these things last forever, or will these stuffs could save us when we die? 

How can we save ours? No one can tell. A total submission to God in a day doesn’t mean a total submission to Him for a lifetime. How many individuals have I heard that they totally submit everything to the Supreme Being, but the practice doesn’t fit in. Actions speak louder than words, isn’t it?

What really has learned me in this event is the value of people surrounding me, the value of what life has given me now. Importance of Him and real individuals which strengthens and made me as me. How ‘bout you, Did u share a little goodness to others? Did you thank Him for a day? Did you forgive people who have done wrong with you? Were you forgiven to those people you’ve hurt? Did you say sorry for the misbehaviors done? Some may possibly say “ No way”, “Difficult”, or “Not my Personality”, but think it over. Doing such might help lighten the burdens we carried. Such a very nice way to practice. Whether we’ll know when will be gone or not, we all end up the same, and the greatest memory we can offer is the shared goodness we’ve given that’s worth keeping to people we left.

Here's a meditation on life and death (edited from Mr. Capin's liturgy)

We are all living on a borrowed time . Death is certain , it comes like a thief in the  night.We know one day or sooner or later death will catch up on us and we will leave everything and everyone behind. We know that life is short and everyday is important. Our faith always tells us"that a man will live but once on earth and die, then faces judgment and receive either eternal happiness as a reward or eternal punishment as punishment". We pray that when we die we will not have many regrets in life. Regrets that we have failed to love and be grateful to people who loved us unconditionally. Regrets that we have failed to express our love, affection, and appreciation in return for their kindness to us.Regrets that we have failed to say sorry and be reconciled with those we have ignored and hurt, and to forgive those who have hurt us as well. Regrets that we have failed to share our time, talent and treasure to those who needed it the most. We hope that we won't have many regrets when death comes to us, we just want to live a fuller and meaningful life. We know that those people who lie not for their own selfish and personal interest usually find greater meaning, direction and fulfillment in life.