Our Duty To Help and Stay on Course

This is the happiest day of my life. Today is my birthday. And normally, I'd simply have dinner or lunch with my family and of course, I get to treat them. At least once a year, I'd do this for my family. However, this day turned out to be more than just a normal birthday celebration.

First, I went to Ayala Triangle Park to join a get together with friends. I wasn't bent on going at first because I wanted to take a rest and stay at home. Going to Ayala on a Sunday meant that I had to trek the long way from Antipolo to Makati--i.e. commuting through various public transports. But I went anyway because we only have this get together once a month. The last month I've been with them was October 2011. Besides, being with friends is also a good way to spend one's birthday. The peculiar thing about it was that, not one of them greeted me today. Deep inside, I didn't feel bad about it. It was a monthly get together and I was thinking that that get together wasn't about me. It was simply having a good time with friends where everyone is treated as special and whose stories are a joy and delight to listen to. So I didn't mind that no one greeted me--the world doesn't just revolve around me.

It should have been a surprise, but during the last few days I began to saw hints of what's going on. Last Thursday night, I met some of them and I saw them passing birthday cards to be signed. There were two of them, but I only signed one. Hmm...

While I was at MRT station today, I received a text from Gina (not her real name) saying that she's already at the Park--it was around 2:45pm and our scheduled meet up was at 3:00pm. Gina is one of those people who's normally late when it comes to these gatherings. So I was teasing her about it. When I finally came, after rounds of kisses, I saw what seemed to be gifts underneath the table. Still, I pretended as though it was nothing--the day is for friends and not for me, even if today is my birthday.

After rounds of laughter and storytelling, I noticed Alex (not his real name) come up behind Leslie (not her real name) with a guitar. Hmm...is he singing for someone? Someone's birthday perhaps? Well, there were two of us who had a birthday there--the other one was Leslie. After her sharing, bouquets of flowers arrived and two slices of cakes with small candles on them. They were given and set before Leslie and me. But wait! There's more! The gifts were distributed and I was the first one who received it--it happened to be a small statue of St. Joseph. Tears ran down my eyes for I've been praying and hoping that one day, preferably on my birthday, I'd get a glimpse of my future partner in life. It was my constant prayer in 2011...and receiving this small statue reminded me that St. Joseph's intercession is a great help regarding my prayer for my life partner.

The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses.  Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on course.  – St. Boniface of Mainz

This is one of my favorite quotes. We need to be reminded that the church is not just some building or structure or the clergy or its leaders and laws. The church is the people and people help each other out in times of great need. And this is done through prayers and coming together as one big happy family of God. If we abandon the church, we are abandoning people who may need us, who look for love and happiness, who needs to be shown the way to God. The Blessed Mother Mary is one such person we go to so that we may find our way back to God. She is that "star of the sea" that guides the ship to its course. But she couldn't do that alone. As St. Boniface puts it, it is our duty as part of the church to help keep her (the church) on its course too. I truly felt what family means today when I celebrated my birthday with my family and with friends--people who would never abandon me and would help me "stay" on course. Here is my song for you--Ave Maris Stella.

 

Ave maris stella, Dei Mater alma, Atque semper Virgo, Felix cœli porta.	Hail, star of the sea, bountiful mother of God and ever Virgin, happy gate of heaven.
Sumens illud Ave Gabrielis ore, Funda nos in pace, Mutans Evæ nomen.	Taking that Ave from the mouth of Gabriel, preserve us in peace, giving Eve a new name.
Solve vincla reis, Profer lumen cæcis, Mala nostra pelle, Bona cuncta posce.	Loose the chains of the bound, bring light to the blind, drive out our ills, invoke all things good.
Monstra te esse matrem, Sumat per te preces, Qui pro nobis natus, Tulit esse tuus.	Show thyself to be a mother, may he who was born for us receive our prayers through thee.
Virgo singularis, Inter omnes mitis, Nos culpis solutos, Mites fac et castos.	Singular virgin, more gentle than all, absolve us from sin and make us gentle and pure.
Vitam præsta puram, Iter para tutum, Ut videntes Jesum Semper collætemur.	Grant us a pure life, prepare a safe way, that in seeing Jesus we may rejoice for ever.
Sit laus Deo Patri, Summo Christo decus, Spiritui Sancto, Tribus honor unus.  Amen.	Praise be to God the Father, glory to Christ on high, and with the Holy Spirit honour to the three in one.  Amen.

A Prayer to a Beloved Friend

A friend's birthday is coming up. We haven't seen each other for quite a while. We were friends in college, but my graduation got delayed due to certain problems. I missed classes in the first semester of my senior year and for the shame of it, I never told anyone why--except Naomi.

Naomi (not her real name) is the kindest, the most gentle, and the sweetest person I've ever met. Her smile could brighten up overcast skies any day. She speaks quite softly that you really need to come close in order to hear what she has to say. But it also means that this is one person who rarely gets angry, hardly loses patience, and always ready to forgive. She has taught me how to be patient--with myself and other people. She taught me how to always see the bright side of things. I feel as though I can be myself with her, be open and outright honest with her. During my college days, she's become my one and only confidant.

After college, we chose two different paths in life. For the next couple of years after my graduation (she graduated ahead of me), we manage to speak to one another occasionally. We send each other birthday cards. Until the time came and we lost touch with each other. Around four or five years had lapsed since we last spoke to each other. By an awesome twist of fate, I've managed to find out where she works. While I was working in the office, I overheard my boss' daughter talk about her teacher. Upon hearing some bits and pieces of her story, it seemed that the teacher she's describing resembles my former college friend. I asked the daughter her name--true enough, the teacher's name was Naomi. On her birthday, I asked a favor to my boss to have a birthday card sent to Naomi through her daughter. The next day, the daughter told me that she was surprised at her teacher's reaction to the card. She said that her teacher literally jumped for joy. Of course I felt great that day! I miss my friend a lot and apparently, she (Naomi) misses me too.

So our paths continue to meet every now and then, but it's unlike that time when I gave that birthday card to her (which was around five years ago). I found out that she works as a part-time instructor in our Alma Mater. Since then, I've been working in Makati and the possibility of she and I getting together for catching up seems remote at this point.

Since it's her birthday on January 12, I've decided to offer something to her--a simple prayer. I doubt if she would ever read this blog I wrote about her. Nevertheless, my theme this week has been remembering and honoring friends. She's the one friend that I'll never forget.

Happy Birthday Naomi! ;-)

THE PRAYER (as sung by the Philippine Madrigal Singers)

I pray you'll be our eyes and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise in times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer when we lose our way
Lead us to the place guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe
 

La luce che tu hai
  Nel cuore resterà
A ricordarci che
Eterna stella sei
Nella mia preghiera
Quanta fede c'è
  

Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
 

Sogniamo un mondo senza più violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno lo dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, di fraternità
La forza che ci dà

[We ask that life be kind]
È il desiderio che
[And watch us from above]
Ognuno trovi amor
[We hope each soul will find]
Intorno e dentro sé
[Another soul to love]

Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Need to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
 

È la fede che
Hai acceso in noi,
Sento che ci salverà