The Human Spirit

In times of adversity, the human spirit comes to rise. The human spirit has ingredients such as courage, selflessness and faith that turn ordinary people into martyrs and saints.

One of those individuals who rose to the occasion was German Lee. He served as judge in the Regional Trial Court in Cebu, Philippines and later promoted as justice of the anti graft court Sandiganbayan. Justice Lee was a wealthy man who dedicated his life in service of the public as a member of the Bar and later the Bench. He wrote books and taught in the university. A few legal practitioners thought he was strict, but most knew him to be upright and fair. But it was not in the courts of law that brought the best in German Lee, rather it was in the ocean that he loved. So much was his passion for the sea that he became a reserve officer of the Philippine Navy.

To join his family in Cebu in time for the holidays, Justice Lee departed Manila in a passenger vessel during rough weather. The ship figured in major disaster causing commotion among passengers wanting to save their lives. Amidst the pandemonium, Justice Lee calmed people down and helped in making orderly the disembarkation of frantic passengers. He was among the last to leave the vessel as it submerged into the sea. It took days before Justice Lee was located. Those who found him were amazed: floating with a life vest safely tied around him, Justice Lee had died with hands clasped together praying to the Heavenly Father.

Courage is inner strength developed in the core of a person through strong beliefs, positive values and conscious experiences. It becomes the armour that shields the individual from the attacks of the enemy. "Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6) Selflessness is putting first the interest of others for the greater good, for the glory of God. "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (Philippians 2:4) Faith is the total surrender of one’s life to the omnipresent God who rewards believers with eternal joy. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

While the human body succumbs to age and weariness, the human spirit nourished with courage, selflessness and faith can rise above the lure of the world, unafraid even in the face of death. After all, death is the beginning of endless bliss in the community of martyrs and saints, in the company of angels, in the presence of God. "Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)

by Mel Libre