The spring shall come!

It's not been a good week, workwise I'm so drained out with the grading of assignments non stop and being ill. But I take courage today in the words of Robert Schuller.

Never cut a tree down in winter time,
Never make a negative decision in low time,
Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst mood,
Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come.

He is Risen!

Being a Catholic ~ Easter is a day of celebration and reflection on the life of the most important person in the world, Jesus Christ.

Looking carefully at HIS life, we see that, although HE knew that his passion was inevitable, HE tried to give us a sense of joy in every gesture.

May HIS wisdom of HIS gesture inspire us, and be always present in our souls: the spiritual quest is compassion, enthusiasm and joy too.

Khalil Gibran wrote a beautiful poem to reflect Jesus life:

"He was not a bird with broken wings, but a violent storm.

He was not a victim of his persecutors and had not suffered at the hands of his executioners - he was free before all

He came to awaken a new and strong soul, which made every heart a temple, an altar and every human being a priest".

The Seed of Virtue

It's been such a long day; working even though it's a weekend. It hasn't been a good week for me especially at work. I'm questioning my decision and my patience has been tested many times. Despite it all, I still hold onto the believe that Patience is a virtue! While I was working today, I came across an advert for a residential area and there was this beautiful phrases on the advert. I've not seen such beautiful words in an advert to sell homes. Think twice. Good actions are the essence of the human spirit and character. A virtuous person is obligated to act in ways that respect the human dignity, rightly, as he/she should. Possessing a virtue is a matter of nobility, let's be obligated to moral excellence and lead a morally meritorious life.

Love in truth. Truth in love.

An interesting read today;

Love in truth. Truth in Love.
Never one at the expense of the other.
Never the embrace of love without the torch of truth.
Never the heat of truth without the warmth of love.

To pursue both is our singular task.

The First One

It was such a long day at work today and to make it worse, I wasn't feeling well. A class of some 150 on my first day of teaching is not an easy task at all. Sometimes I wonder where the strenght comes from. When I think I can't, my ability to perserve takes over to prove me wrong. I come out unscathed; with just a tad exhaustion. Nothing some good sleep can't undo.

I've not had much time to read for pleasure the past week or so except some academic readings for work. Today is good for some words of wisdom to carry with me throughout the week. Great thought this week, courtesy of the great man himself, Lao Tzu:

Rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.

The words of truth are always paradoxical.
Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful.
Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.

Kindness inspires Kindness

Thought of the Day:

Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.

Thoughts In Solitude

Today I was extremely productive at work. After completing my work, I thought some poetry would just do the trick before I leave for the day.

A beautiful poetry by Thomas Merton on "I have no idea where I am going". Thinking of what would be in the next year or so.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going,
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Don't Quit

I just finished my classes for the day and decided it's time for some poetry. Edgar Guest wrote a beautiful poem about not quitting. When times are tough, take heart and believe that everything will be alright.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must,
but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;
often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - it's when things seem worst,
you must not quit.

Love is Patient. Love is Kind.

I wanna share a very simple, common yet heart-warming words on Love found in the Bible.


Love is patient, love is kind.
Love is never boastful, not conceited, nor rude.
It is not self-seeking, not easily angered.
It keeps no record of wrongdoing,
It does not delight in evil But rejoices in the truth.
It always protects, trusts, hopes, and preserves.
There is nothing love cannot face;
There is no limit to its faith, hope, and endurance.

And now these three remian: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

If I had my life to live over

Of course we can't unfry an egg, but there is no law against thinking about it.
We all think of what if...I could just go back and do over. What would I have done differently?
I know I think about it all the time..some were merely regrets, others were things I could have done better.

An interesting look at this issue written by Don Harold:

If I had my life to live over, I would try to make more mistakes.

I would relax. I know of very few things that I would take seriously.
I would go more places. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less bran.

I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary troubles.
You see, I have been one of those fellows who live prudently and sanely, hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I have had my moments. But if I had it to do over again, I would have more of them – a lot more.

I never go anywhere without a thermometer, a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If I had it to do over, I would travel lighter.

If I had my life to live over, I would pay less attention to people telling us we must learn Latin or History; otherwise we will be disgraced and ruined and flunked and failed.
I would seek out more teachers who inspire relaxation and fun.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted a little earlier in the spring and stay that way a little later in the fall.
I would shoot more paper wads at my teachers.
I would keep later hours.

I’d have more sweethearts.
I would go to more circuses.
I would be carefree as long as I could, or at least until I got some care- instead of having my cares in advance.

I doubt, however, that I’ll do much damage with my creed.
The opposition is too strong.
There are too many serious people trying to get everybody else to be too darned serious.

Shut up..and pay attention...

A beautifully written poem by Laura Strickland. A reminder to all of us to shut up, pay attention and focus on the important things in life before it's too late. No regrets, peeps!

Life is so precious,
And each day is a gift.
So enjoy every minute,
As it were your last to live.

Cherish your loved ones,
Hug them tight,
Share with them your heart,
And your time.

Nothing is forever,
And life goes so fast,
Each minute that passes,
Is one you can’t get back.

When troubles arrive,
And knock you off your feet,
Stand up and smile,
And remember life is too sweet.

Every morning when you wake,
Decide right from the start,
That “Today will be a good day”
And let it all in with an open heart.

Prayer of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is one topic I don't want to think about nor write about cos of many reasons. It's a difficult topic for me; one that I'm still struggling to comprehend and learn, let alone practice.

Forgiveness is an act of the will, not a feeling.

If we are able to pray for a person's well being then we can be assured that we have forgiven that person.

Forgiveness is a life-long obligation.

Daily we need to forgive those who hurt or injure us. Are you able to do this?

Forgiveness is a topic that has been on my mind on various occasions this week as I struggle to forgive someone who is no longer a part of my life. I still can't let go of the hurt, though I want this person go be away, far away from my life so that I can be free of these emotions.

I read this interesting poetry by Coelho called the Prayer of Forgiveness (not really an actually prayer in that sense of the word but still pretty awesome).

The tears I shed, I forgive.
The suffering and disappointments, I forgive.
The betrayals and lies, I forgive.
The slandering and scheming, I forgive.
The hatred and persecution, I forgive.
The punches that were given, I forgive.
The shattered dreams, I forgive.
The dead hopes, I forgive.
The disaffection and jealousy, I forgive.
The indifference and ill will, I forgive.
The injustice in the name of justice, I forgive.
The anger and mistreatment, I forgive.
The neglect and oblivion, I forgive.
The world with all its evil, I forgive.

Grief and resentment, I replace with understanding and agreement.
Revolt, I replace with music that comes from my violin.
Pain I replace with oblivion.
Revenge, I replace with victory.

I will be able to love above all discontentment. To give even when I am stripped of everything. To work happily even when I find myself in the midst of all obstacles. To dry tears even when I am still crying. To believe even when I am discredited.

After reading this beautiful thoughts on forgiveness, I lower my head and ask God "Thy will be done, Thy will be done".

Live. Laugh. Love

I was recently asked 'what am I inspire to...'? I'm supposed to write this on a sheet of paper and a photo will be taken (why a photo?, don't ask..it's a work thing).

I've been thinking about this for the past two days...I don't want to say someone inspires me cos every day I see people whom inspire me to be a better person. But instead I was looking for 'words' that I'm inspire by...cos I love the written word so it's only natural to think of words.

And I've come up with these three words, which can mean so much more than what it does...
Live. Laugh. Love.

Live life at its fullest.
Laugh at things that don't matter.
Love with all that you have and more.

Touched by an angel

I realised I've given tribute to many of my fave authors whom are male. So today's post is to offer tribute to Maya Angelou, an extraordinary woman. She was the first black woman director in Hollywood, Angelou has written, produced, directed, and starred in productions for stage, film, and television. She wrote this beautifully composed poem titled "Touched by an angel".

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

Random thoughts on the other man

It's been one of those long days which feels like it will never end. You get a feeling deep in your gut that life is nothing but a routine everyday, and there seems to be nothing to look forward to...

So to keep my spirits up, I've re-read a book on the other fave author in my life: Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese American poet, artist and writer. Most of Gibran's work deals with Christianity, especially on the topic of spiritual love.

Gibran's best-known work is The Prophet, a book that composed of twenty-six poetic essays. Since it was first published in 1923, this book has never been out of print. Having been translated into more than forty languages, it was one of the bestselling books of the twentieth century in the United States. And I'm so proud to say I owe a beautiful hardcover copy of this book which was given to me as a X'mas gift two years ago by my sister and Jackson.

Some of my fave Gibran's random yet, beautifuls words:

1) Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.

2) Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood. All that spirits desire, spirits attain.

3) An eye for an eye, and the whole world would be blind.
If the other person injures you, you may forget the injury; but if you injure him you will always remember.

4) Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.

5) I wash my hands of those who imagine chattering to be knowledge, silence to be ignorance, and affection to be art.

6) And ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.
If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don’t, they never were.

7) If you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work.

8) If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.

9) If your heart is a volcano, how shall you expect flowers to bloom?

10) Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.

11) Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof. Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking.

12) Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is its twin brother.

My beautiful soul

I thought of you with love today
But that is nothing new,
I thought about you yesterday
And days before that too.
I think of you in silence
...I often speak your name,
Now all I have are memories
And a picture of you in a my heart.
Some may think you are forgotten
Though on earth you are no more,
But in our memory you are with me
As you always were before.
A million times I've thought of you
A million times I've cried,
If loving could have saved you
You would have never died.
You left us all with such beautiful memories
Your love is still our guide,
And though I cannot see you
You are always at my side.
It broke my heart to lose you
But you did not go alone,
Part of me went with you
On the day God called you home.
Forgive me Lord, I'll always weep
For the beautiful soul I loved, but could not keep.

I miss you so much that it hurts and I think of you & what could have been, R.

From the desk of Jesus

I never meant to hurt your heart.
I never wanted to be apart.
But God called one day, and said "It's time".
I eagerly replied, "Your will be done O Lord, not mine".
Life was great, just not the same.
Since Jesus spoke and called my name.
To mould me, and shape me, to be my best.
He allowed me to go through those character-building tests.
God sat besides me, and wept at every trial.
Holding my hand, He carried me from stringent to mild.
Then Jesus carefully explained His plan.
For me to help Him watch my family and friends.
So, although I may not be with you, I'm near when you call my name.
In your mind, I'd appear.
I'd be watching from a cloud and waiting patiently.
Keeping you safe til God calls you to join me.

Scribbling from the desk of Jesus.

Thought of you, Ron when I read the above cos it's what you would say.