With everything that’s been happening around the world right now, it’s very important to remind ourselves that in the midst of turmoil, there is always hope; that despite all the chaos, we can still find peace; and that when everything else seems to fall apart right in front of our eyes, we can still believe in the power of unity. 

We must keep on believing that people are worth fighting for; they are worth loving, worth all the efforts and the sacrifices. And most all, life is worth living – no matter what comes our way or what other people would say. 

And it all boils down to the unchangeable truth: Though we don’t know what lies ahead of us, we can put our confidence in the One that holds the past, the present and the future.

Truly, in the midst of darkness, there is light. And while everyone else spends his life, struggling to search for the light, dare to be different – aim to be the light. 

Thoughts: on seeing things with a clear perspective

It has been more or less 14 years since I’ve first worn a pair of eyeglasses. Yes, I discovered that I was having problems with my eyesight during the 2nd grade. In fact, I started out with a grade of 250 for both eyes. Now, I have a grade of about 800 and it’s almost impossible for me to recognize a person without my glasses, even with a fair distance. 

Wearing glasses was a challenge, for so many reasons – first, I’m one of those people who would really look like a nerd when wearing glasses; second, it’s hard to play basketball or volleyball or any kind of game that would involve playing with a ball. I already experienced being hit straight in the face and my glasses almost broke (thank God it didn’t shatter into pieces or else I would probably be blind right now); third, when it’s summer and you stayed long under the scorching sun, your glasses would leave a mark on your face making that portion the only one not getting a sunburn; fourth, in case you misplace it, it’s gonna be hard to find since, remember, you actually needed a pair of glasses to see clearly! 😂; and lastly, the maintenance required. The pair of glasses that you used when you were 7 will most likely not be suitable for you after three years or so…or maybe, even just after a year. The grade of your eyes would increase over time, and then you had to request for a new pair of lens. The prices, especially for those of good quality, were never a joke, either. And you just had to have your eyes monitored at least a year, just to be sure you won’t be needing a higher grade for the lens anytime soon. 

But then, there’s the bright side in wearing glasses. For some people, you would look like a smart kiddo who diligently studies his lessons every night even if that’s not exactly the case. 😂  But I guess the best part about wearing a pair of eyeglasses is that a person who’s almost close to being blind is finally given a chance to see the world in a clearer point of view. Someone who may struggle to see the fine details of his surroundings and even the person he’s talking to, may now enjoy the beauty of seeing things in a better resolution. In reality, not everyone has been blessed enough with a 20-20 vision, for various reasons – the problem may be hereditary, it could be the life style, or certain incidents along the way. But at least people like us could still have a chance to look around and appreciate every fine detail. 

It may be much of a hassle, but if it meant seeing the world in a clearer view, I would be thankful enough to be able to wear a pair of eyeglasses. 

The thing is, not everyone can see the world clearly as much as most people do. There are others who have a greater obstacle of not seeing anything at all. I hope today, if you felt that everything in your life has been shattered into pieces, the fact that you are reading this right now means that there is an expensive gift that you must be thankful for every single day: that is the gift of eyesight. ❤ And don’t ever take it for granted. Explore the world – read books, travel to different places, take pictures, visit people, make memories. Appreciate the beauty reflected around you because you’ll never know when you’ll lose the chance of seeing things in a clear perspective. 

On Obedience:

There is always a reward in obedience – sometimes, it may not be in the way you wanted, but always in the way you needed.

Finding the strength that comes from within

Most of the time, we hold on to something or someone to feel confident. And it’s not entirely wrong. We have families, friends, and even certain “security blankets” that we depend on for us to feel motivated in life. But I hope that one day, we’ll learn to look deeper into our hearts; to search for that inner power – the strength that comes not from any external force but from within us. It’s the strength that remains even when the world seems to fall apart. Because it’s the power that springs from our commitment to overcome. No matter what. I hope we find that power within us. And to find it, we have to turn to the only One who is capable of giving us that power.

#7

Remember, nothing beats the strength that comes from within.

Character and Changing the World (short version)

Being able to change the world ultimately lies in a person’s faith manifested in his character, much more than the intelligence or the skills he or she has developed through the years. Whatever gift one has can never be beneficial to the world unless he decides to utilize it for that purpose.

Walk at Your Own Pace

You may think your life has gone wrong just because something turned out entirely different from what you have always planned…until you come to a concrete realization that you’ve actually been reserved for something GREATER – much, much more than you’ve ever imagined for yourself. Don’t be stuck with the “detours”. No matter how many they may be, bear in mind that there is always a “destination” to look forward to. Wait. Work. Trust and obey. 

In every detour, you have the privilege of building your core, so that when you reach your destination, you’re the person fit for the job.

Walk at your own pace. You’re in no competition with anyone else. At the end of the day, nothing’s more heartwarming than seeing yourself better than who you are yesterday, and seeing the rest of the world experiencing the same. 🙂

#5

May we reach a point in our lives when we can wholeheartedly say, “Thy will be done, even when it hurts. ‘Cause You know better than I.” 

Straight from the Heart: 2016 Reflection

“…And so I’ve finally understood how instances which brought tremendous anxiety can lead a person to strive and achieve absolute peace. Because through it all, we always have a choice: Whether to appreciate the beauty of the petals or to hurt ourselves with the flower’s thorns; or even to be bold enough to believe in the best of both worlds. And even when we think that there’s no other choice, thinking in such a way also became our choice…” -mgls©2016

#4

The earth may shake. Oceans may rise. Thunders will roar. Still, my God is Lord of all.