How can you learn or get away from having a Bonsai Mentality?

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I really don't see plants which are put inside the house.  I was born and lived in the countryside. In terms of plants, I had all the natural plants to see since these are available around.  It was only when I live in the city that I saw plants inside the house or building.  I began to learn about them. Then, I was introduced into Bonsai plants.

There are lessons I learned from this kind of plant.

1.  Symbol of Beauty.  Though they are small plants, they are beautiful.  Indeed, they are good inside the house or buildings.  It's so nice to see these plants adorning the office, room or building.  In other words, they add  beauty and glamour.

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2. Flexibility. Being small, it's easy for them to be placed even inside the office, or even on top of tables and cabinets.

On the other hand, we can also learn from this plant when it comes to growth.  By their nature, Bonsai plants don't grow big.  Even how much water or fertilizer you put, they will never grow big. That's their nature.

Sometimes, we also have that mentality of being contented and don't want to grow.

In the gospel of talents, Jesus was telling us to use our resources or talents to be shared or multiplied.  He wants us to grow and to share our blessings to others.

For those who are caught in a negative Bonsai mentality, check yourself with the following questions:

1. Are you willing to grow from the your present status now?
2. Do you want to take a risk in your life?
3. Do you want to get out from your comfort zone?
4. Do you want to have a paradigm shift?
5. Do you want to get outside of the box?

Or, you can do the following:

1. Check out your dreams.  Do you have a clear dream in life?
2. Check outside the window.  Look for opportunities for growth.
3. Check on your potentials.  Know what  gifts, skills and talents God has given you.

From the lessons we learned from the about Bonsai plants,  check these questions:

1. How do you show your beauty?  Are you making people relaxed and inspired seeing your beauty (whether physical or spiritual)?

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2. Are you flexible?  Can you adjust yourself wherever you will be put?  In other words, can you bloom where you will be planted.  Remember, the disciples of Jesus were sent to towns and villages like lambs among wolves.

In our gospel today (Matthew 10:16-25), Jesus sent his disciples to do  missionary work.  The sending was quite scary. "

16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17	Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues,

We can only become genuine disciples of Jesus if we also learn from the lessons of the Bonsai plants.  Again,   as Christian missionaries we cannot just remain inside or just remain static.  By virtue of our baptism, we are called to grow and become missionaries just like how Jesus made his disciples as missionaries  in today's gospel.

May your dreams be blessed.

Randy T

What makes your child happy?

When I watch this video of my mentor preacher- Bo Sanchez, I remember my own childhood.  More than that , I remember my students, especially elementary and high school students, who long to have their father and mother to be with them.

Friends, watch this video. If you are a parent, this is really for you.

May your dreams be blessed.

How do you deal with rejection?

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Do you have that feeling of incompetence when you act or perform in front of people who know you well? I'll give you an example.  Dennis is a known addict in their place.  However, his life changes after having a girlfriend from a respected family.  It turns out that the girl belongs to a small but very progressive Christian denomination.  After months of joining this community, Dennis becomes a trusted leader and preacher for young people.  He is gaining the confidence but shivers upon knowing the latest mission given to him.  He is going to preach to the young people in their place.  

Can you imagine how hard it is for Dennis?  What do you think is the main reason why he is afraid?  Obvious, right?  The young people in their place know him and his past.  

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This scenario is quite peculiar but even in our own experience we seem to have less confidence when we do things in front of those who know us.  At one time, I invited a well-known leader to speak on a particular issue.  When I talked to him, he commented that it was his first time in long long years he was again  invited to speak in our school.  But what stuck me was his side comment.  "In other places, people believed so much on me but here in our place people don't give much credit ,"  he jokingly said.

As a kid, I was so fascinated for visitors in our village who speaks Tagalog, or especially foreigners speaking in English.  For me, they are superior than the people in our village who only speak pure Cebuano.  I think it is a part of Filipino culture to pay  much respect and admiration to people from other places. 

What's the reason?  Familiarity leads to rejection.

In our gospel today (Luke 4:21-30), Jesus was rejected by his neighbors and acquaintances.  They can't believe him talking about God and His Kingdom because they knew him, the son of a carpenter.  He is their neighbor.  The same experience was felt by the apostles and disciples of Jesus. They had a hard time convincing their own people.

However, this rejection has led to opening the gates of greater opportunities.  For example, in the case of Jesus, he transferred to other places and gained support and admiration from the people.  This was also the same experience to his followers.  I suppose this is one of the reasons why the Church spread quickly outside Israel.

The simple message for today's gospel is to fight rejection.  However, like Jesus and His followers, we need to do the following:

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1. Stand to what you believe.  Despite the negative perception of people, we need to be strong on what we see as right.  As long as it is clear what we want to do, be firm against any form of rejection.  As a teacher, i am amazed to know that some of our students who did not do well in high school are excelling in college. Those naughty ones in high school, who are the recipient of all the negative feedback from their classmates and sometimes teachers, bloom in a new environment.  In other words, they have the capacities but  are prevented for lack of confidence. They are not able to stand up for what they are and what they can do.  It's a different story in a new environment.

2. Look for opportunities.  If you are rejected in one place, then convince yourself of the possibility of doing it in another place.  It's like in business.  If the business fails, real business people don't stop.  They find another way, another place and another opportunities.  In life, that's the same.  Learn from this popular saying, "When God closes a door, he opens  a window."

3.  Get the message.  Rejection is not the end.  A person of wisdom sees roadblocks a challenges to make him stronger.  In our gospel today, Jesus proceeded to other villages because He knew the people there will be more receptive of Him.  It was a sign for Him to focus and to change his strategies. The apostles and other followers followed the same strategy.  In fact, they were taught by Jesus how to handle themselves when rejected.  It was in the bible that if rejected they will leave the place, shake the dust of their sandals as a testament and proceed  to another house.

What about you?  Do you also experience being rejected?  Learn from the gospel today and the message it brings.

May your dreams be blessed.

Randy T. 

Do you know the price of world peace?

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My previous article was about living in peace.  I'm writing this article as a reaction on the news of today.  It was reported that for 2012 there were 325 confirmed or potential suicides among the US army.  "Our highest on record," commented Lt. Gen. Howard Bromberg, deputy chief of staff, manpower and personnel of the Army. What was more surprising was this number exceeded the deaths of the U.S. Army (219) and total military death (313) in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.  For more detailed information, go to this website (http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/02/us/army-suicides/index.html).  

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Is this the price of world peace that the US Army is fighting in foreign countries?  According to Paul Sullivan, a member of the board of Veterans for Common sense, "As the service members return home and as the wars wind down, the mental trauma of war remains and there is an urgent need to make sure every service member receives a psychological evaluation upon returning home, and whenever a service member reaches out for help, the service member needs to receive it immediately."

  

In the history of war in any parts of the world, no one wins.  All are losers.  Sadly, the innocent people suffer the most.  This brings us to reflect on what is really the real meaning of peace?  

I remember my theology professor defining peace in many contexts.  Peace for military is the absence of war.  Peace in the family is the absence of quarrel.  Peace in society is the absence of criminality.  However, he added that peace is not just the absence of things.     Peace is experienced if there is the presence of love, unity and harmony. The real peace is the peace of God.

Moreover, I learned the meaning of peace when our other professor talked about the Kingdom of God.  He said that peace is the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God.  What is then is the kingdom of God.  The kingdom of God is when God reigns.  

Indeed, if we allow God to be our king, then His kingdom will dominate.  There are many kingdoms in our world today.  Again, learning from my college professors, the war is not about bad people. It is about oil. If people and nations fight for the world resources, there could be no peace.

The Kingdom of God is about sharing.  It is not about accumulating resources for future use, just like the war for oil, according to my professor.  The Kingdom of God is about love, unity and harmony.  God's kingdom is multiplying goodness to the world.  

The world does the opposite.  Instead of multiplying love, guns are multiplied.  Instead of spreading the Word of God, lies and evil news are proclaimed in mass media.  

The kingdom of God is about love.  Love begets love. In contrast, war begets war.  Evil begets evil.

It's time for world leaders to seriously think, reflect  and to consider God in their decisions and actions.  It is time for them to listen to the Word of God.  It might sound impossible considering the culture of death that is paralyzing the world today.  But where do we go if we want peace?

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The price of peace is not achieved through war.

The price of peace is a result of the reign of God.

Peace is making the Kingdom of God present and alive in all countries, in each one's heart.

What about our individual lives?  Do we experience peace? Is there peace in our family?  Is there peace within us?

Last week, Rudy, a friend of mine, shared about his being brokenhearted.  For two week, he did not eat well.  He drank liquor, although he is not a drinker in the first place.  There was no peace in his heart until after two weeks when he came to his senses.  He cannot solve a problem with another problem.  How is he now?  They are back again.  

It's difficult to talk about peace if we don't even experience it in the first place.  

May your dreams be blessed.

Randy T.

Reference:

Watkins, T. (Feb 2, 2012). 325 Army suicides in 2012 a record.  Retrieved Feb 12, 2013 from http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/02/us/army-suicides/index.html 

How I wish I can go back to my childhood days

When was the time when you were free from worries?  When was the time you cared less of everything around you?  When was the time you just didn't care what the world is?

Of course, the obvious answer is your childhood days.  Free from stress. Free from problems.  Well, if ever they come, you can be assured of the loving care and guidance of the people around you, especially your parents.

One time I received a call from a former student.  He wanted to talk to me, ASAP.  Good I was not so busy in my office at that time.  I told her to come.  I thought it was just a 10 minute meeting considering I was on duty. It turned out to be a two-hour non-stop sharing, and non-stop listening from me.

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Until now, i still wonder  if my listening ears would be enough to lessen the burden she was feeling.  I could not forget what she said, "How I wish it was like before when I was still your pupil, brother."  She still calls me brother until this time.

The song "Gaya ng Dati"  reminds me of her.  What pained me most was the thought that she could hardly get out from her immoral lifestyle.  Other than that, she knew she is hurting a lot of people but felt no guilt about it.  It was completely different before.  She wanted to go back.

In assessing here situation, I don't think I could really help her much.  I just pray that this song would touch the deepest core of her heart and she will eventually embrace God once again.

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To you, my dear student, and to millions of people who are lost, listen and reflect on this song.  God is a welcoming God.  He is compassionate and merciful. That is our faith about God.  He is a Father. 

May your dreams be blessed.

Randy T.

What is the secret of living in peace?

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Today is Candelaria.  It is the feast of the presentation of the baby Jesus in the temple (a tradition of the Jews).  While the center of the story is about the baby Jesus, I am amazed of the one character of this whole story (Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32).

He is Simeon.  The moment he received Jesus in his hand he exclaimed "

29	"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30	for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31	which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32	a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."

This is a story of Simeon who has been waiting to see the savior of Israel to come.  That was his mission and today's gospel shows the fulfillment of God's promise to his people.

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What can we learn from Simeon in this story?

1. Living in peace.  He was waiting for a long time to hold he savior in his hand.  When the moment came, he knew he will live in peace.  Jesus is the prince of peace.  If we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we will be in peace.  What else do you look for if you have the prince of peace in your life who will guide you, inspire you and bless you?

2. Mission for others.  Obviously, Simeon was in awe upon seeing the baby Jesus.  He knew he will have peace that he waited for a long time.  But that was not only his peace.  In the gospel, Simeon was just as simple person in the temple and he knew that he has a purpose to receive a very important person. He knew in his heart that the baby Jesus will bring peace, prosperity and grandeur both for the gentiles and the people of Israel.  In other words, he has a mission for others.

3. Humility.  Simeon was a simple man.  He did not ask for credit for doing his job of receiving the Savior of the world. He remained humble and just sang a song of praise to God.  What about you?  Do you remain in the sidelines so that others will take the spotlight?  Do you remain in the background so that God will be the center of the universe?  It's sad to see preachers trying to make themselves popular instead of through them God will be known more. Our mission is to make Jesus known throughout the world.  We do this by the help of the Holy Spirit.  The credit goes to to the Holy Spirit who works wonders in us and in the Church.

4. Patience.  Simeon bwaited for long before the day came.  He is an example of a man of patience. This attitude is exemplified in his life because he was very determined of his mission in life.  In other words, he was patient because his dream, goal and focus was very clear.  We can learn from him.  Are you patient?  Is you patience connected with your faith?  Is it connected to your dream?

May the story of Simeon help us live in peace, work for others, remain humble and act with patience.

You may watch this short video of the Presentation of the Lord. 

May your dreams be blessed.

Randy T. 

To whom do you go when you are so down?

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After work this afternoon, I went home and immediately opened my facebook account.  Somebody posted a greeting mentioning "first Friday".  Oh, I'm again reminded that it's the first Friday of the month. I am a devotee to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and first Friday is the Sacred Heart day.  I felt not going to mass because I was not feeling well. But no, surfing the net is less important than honoring my refuge, strength, protector, giver and inspiration- The Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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I noticed that compared before there are more people attending the first Friday mass now.  I also observed a good number of people wearing red t-shirts.  They were devotees of the Divine Mercy, very closely related to my devotion.  

But what is really the Sacred Heart devotion?  Well, I will not explain here in detail.  I would rather share how the Sacred Heart has influenced my life.  First, have you seen those devotees of Santo Intiero in Quiapo.  Honestly, I am always worried about the safety of the people when they participate in the procession. I am not like those people but I respect them.  That's their devotion.  It shows faith and how this image of God influences their life.  It reminds them of God who answers to all their needs.

Many are also devotees of the Sacred Heart because the image is a symbol of God's compassion.  The images is a welcoming image for those in crisis, trouble, in agony and in despair.  True to its nature, the Sacred Heart manifest the words of Christ saying, "Come to me all you who are weary, and I will refresh you."  

What an assuring words.  We see this in the image of the Sacred Heart.  My devotion is cultivated when I was in the formation house and later on as a religious brother.  The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the image of our compassionate God.  This has inspired me in my life, especially as a teacher.  A lot of times I need to swallow my pride to go down to the level of my students.  There are students, especially in the elementary and high school, who really need my patience.  I don't know when but there was a time in my teaching career when I stopped being bothered by the so called problematic students.  In fact, those naughty ones were my first priority.  That is compassion, inspired by the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

What about you?  Where do you go when you are so down?  Who is your refuge and comfort in times of grief?  If you look at the image of the Sacred Heart, you will be reminded that we have a God who is very compassionate. As a devotee of the Sacred Heart, you are assured that no matter what happens the God of compassion is your constant companion.

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I've journeyed so many young people in pain.  Sometimes, I could hardly imagine why they need to suffer at their tender age.  I could not even see myself in their situation.  But these students survive.  Some of them are now very successful in life.  God will never abandon us, if only we accept HIS welcoming embrace.  That is the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  His image would inspire us to believe that there is God who is compassionate. Love is the language of God for God is love.

May your dreams be blessed.

Randy T