Crowning Glory

Beauty pageants have been labelled as exploitative on women and in instances criticized on the unresponsive answers of contestants during the question-and-answer portion. In the 2009 Miss USA competition, an openly gay judge asked, “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalise same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?”

 

The contestant placed on the spot was 21 year old Miss California Carrie Prejean, who responded: “You know what, in my country, in my family, I do believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offence to anybody out there...that's how I was raised and I believe that it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you.”

 

Media described Prejean’s answer as controversial.  Prejean failed to win, placing second. The judge later posted an impassioned video blog on his website, saying: “She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage she lost because she's a dumb bitch!” He said Prejean should have been more diplomatic with her answer.

 

There is something wrong, something very wrong here. When Gospel Truth is made to look bad and the believer who utters it is insulted, we can only say that the devil is at work trying hard to change time-honoured Christian values. But then God is always many light years ahead of Satan. Prejean spoke with conviction which in the Christian context refers to the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart, telling us what is right and wrong.      She became the messenger of truth unafraid of the backlash that was forthcoming. “Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.” (Isaiah 51:7)

 

Carrie Prejean may have failed to win the Miss USA crown, but she gained victory for God, and that is a crowning glory for a faith believer.

by Mel Libre

Danger in Anger

The summit of Americas held in April 2009 produced interesting photographs and cordial words that showed good intentions for the healing of deep wounds in the great divide between North America and South America. The world power that the United States is and its tendency to dictate on its neighbours down South has strained relations for decades with Cuba’s Fidel Castro standing as the Old Guard and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez as its new champion.

 

But it was Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega who vented the hemispheric anger of the South by recalling how the hands of the US tried to oust him from power and the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Ortega though said the new US President, Barack Obama could not be held accountable; to which the US president responded, "I'm grateful that President Ortega did not blame me for things that happened when I was 3 months old", to the delight of the other leaders.

 

Anger is one letter short of danger; if not contained could lead to bitterness, hatred or violent behaviour. The open wound of South America has remained unhealed for decades; and if nothing is done, will further escalate the already strained relations between the North and the South. As anger threatens the stability of nations, it also has caused the break up of relations within families: husbands and wives estranged; parents and children not on speaking terms; parricide and infanticide growing in an alarming level.

 

Among the antidotes to anger are debts write-off and prayer. When the chance of collection is no longer feasible in a business setting, bad debts are written off, that is, taken out of the records. If somebody has wronged you, forgiveness is the best option. "Love is not rude. Love keeps no record of wrongs." (1 Corinthians 13:5)

 

Most importantly, prayer works effectively to temper tension, to soften the heart, to conquer anger. Christ is our model, for even as He suffered, He sought forgiveness for His enemies, letting God render judgement. "Christ suffered for you. He is your example, you must follow in his steps…He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly."(1 Peter 2:21, 23)

by Mel Libre

Hopefulness In A State Of Hopelessness

Ate Vi arrived ahead of her husband who was the principal applicant for a work-to-resident visa to New Zealand. She abandoned a good paying job for an uncertain future. This remains to be so to this day.

There is truth to the adage, "When it rains, it pours" for Ate Vi has suffered a series of setbacks that only the brave of heart could bear. Her husband returned to the Philippines having failed to secure a job in his field of specialization; her work permit expired though not of her own making; her finances dwindle by the day.

Despite the helplessness, she remains hopeful that things will be all right, that her suffering will turn to joy, that victory will overcome the failures. She takes life one day at a time in search of the light at the end of the tunnel. She joined a Catholic community where she is most consistent in attendance; is involved in activities; and outstanding in performing assigned tasks. When she attends masses, she dresses her best, showing no trace on her face of the difficult ordeal she is undergoing.

Of late, she discovered that the immigration consultant she hired failed to attend to her papers. It was a severe blow; blunted only by the advice given to her in an immigration clinic that if a job offer was given her, she could continue to stay in New Zealand. A job offer has come. The story has yet to end; and I pray each night for Ate Vi and as well as other precariously situated migrants.

God is our refuge in times of distress. "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you." (Deuteronomy 31:8) God alone controls the future. "O Lord, you alone are my hope." (Psalm 71;5)

We need to pray to the Lord. "Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope...May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word...I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word...You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope...I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words."(Psalm 119:43, 74, 81, 114, 147)

Be confident for God will deliver us from distress. "The Lord God helps me…I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame." (Isaiah 50:7)

by Mel Libre

The Poor on the Clay Floor

The one room shack had a clay floor. There lay on the lone bamboo bed the lifeless body of the father of the family. Acting as counsel I was assigned by a client to deliver the financial assistance from the company whose employee had caused the death of the breadwinner in a vehicular accident.

 

The grieving widow and her children, all in tattered clothes, graciously accepted me into their home. I could see in their eyes deep sadness and utter helplessness. As I offered my condolences and handed the amount, my heart was wrenched as I controlled my tear ducts from overflowing.

 

Poverty is real. We see it in countries at war; we see it in slum colonies; we see it in busy city streets; we see it in church entrances. Many dread the prospect of being poor that they get education, secure a job and venture into business, which is not bad. When they attain prosperity, they seek more -- and still more. That may be bad.

 

Yet God cares so much for the poor. "[The Lord our God] lifts the poor from dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes!" (Psalm 113:7-8)

 

Those who are well off cannot simply wash their hands to the responsibility of caring for the poor. Those in poverty actually lead us the way to salvation. "Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon." (Isaiah 58:10)

 

To this day, I still ask myself if I had done enough for that fatherless family. My consolation is the fact that God has taken care of the widow and the children. I may have failed in that instance, but God continues to give each one of us the privilege to serve the poor. We only have to open our eyes, more so our hearts.

by Mel Libre

Far More Precious Than The Greatest Treasures On Earth

Yves St Laurent is synonymous with high fashion and style. His creativity and sense of timing brought him fame and much wealth. He died in 2008. It was revealed after his death that through the years he accumulated a wide range of art works and relics that were never viewed by the public; kept hidden in his palatial home. In no time, the individual to whom he bequeathed the treasures had these auctioned, bringing a cash windfall amounting to US$264 million, the biggest auction ever. A lifelong effort vanished like spoils in a war.

 

Many people pursue hobbies of collecting things – artwork, cars, dolls, figurines, stamps, etc. Often, these avocations demand time, effort and money. But we don’t mind for these bring joy and satisfaction. There is nothing wrong with collecting things so long as the effort does not consume one to a point of obsession. Hobbies are meant to pass our time away in a constructive and positive way.

 

Our true mission on earth though is less on accumulation, more on sharing. And oftentimes we ask ourselves, "What can I share when I don’t even have enough for myself?" Others would say, "Let the wealthy ones do the giving." If we live by the standards of the world, there is never enough. But if we live by the Word of God, there is abundance from each one of us to be shared to others. The gifts and talents we have; the skills and abilities we possess; the love and the light that God has filled our hearts. "In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well." (Romans 12:6)

 

If we opt to share, blessings come into our lives that culminate in something far more precious than the greatest treasures on earth: everlasting life in the Heavenly Kingdom. "We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory." (1Thessalonians 2:12)

by Mel Libre