Coming Home

Welcome home.

Step into light;

For us to see

Your glory.

Bless us

With your tales

Of courage

As Being.

Did it hurt

As you plunged

Into time

And space?

Let us see

The gems borne

From scars

Of life

Brave choice

To be you

‘Twas a great gift

Give us

the load

of your life.

All there is

All that was

Birth,

Love,
Grief,

Death.

One last breath

Take it all in;

Then let go.

It is done.

The journey ends.

Welcome home.

Answered Prayers

Dear Beneficiary of My Lost Wallet,

I lost my wallet on my way to Bali. It was filled with money that I was supposed to use to buy sarongs from the Ubud market in every color that you can find on the rainbow.

I recognize that everything that I planned to buy from Bali would have ended up at the back of my closet like most souvenirs I bought from all my trips. That happened to the dozens of Sarongs I bought from my first trip to Bali.

I came to Bali to pray for abundance and the gods had an odd way of answering that prayer. Instead of giving me the winning numbers to the lotto while meditating at the most holy temple of Besakih, they actually whispered these words to me:

“If abundance is what you’re asking for, let go of the need for having more than enough and be satisfied with what’s enough.”

“If abundance is what you’re asking for, what you have that’s more than enough, send it to someone who does not have enough.”

Which is why I want to make it official by writing you.

May the money you found be the answer to your prayers. May that money be my way of sending a miracle your way.

With Peace in my Heart,

Jose

PS - May you not be someone who was praying for more money to get a nose job.

Dear Generous Donor,

I found your wallet. It was filled with more money than I have ever seen in my life. I earn 200 pesos every day for selling candies and cigarettes.

I asked myself if I should keep it. With this money, I know I can take my daughter to McDonald’s every day for the rest of the year. 

My heart told me that keeping it as if it’s mine is a great sin even if I didn’t steal it. I decided to return it to you the next day but life got in the way.

The day after I found your wallet, my daughter fell ill.  I took her to the doctor who told me that she was very sick. He then gave me a list of medicines to buy.

I felt helpless. I didn't have money to buy everything in the prescription. Then I remembered your money.

I still thought that it was wrong for me to use it because it wasn’t mine. Confused on what I needed to do next, I prayed for guidance.

At the end of that prayer, I had the answer. I actually felt peace in my heart as if I was given permission to use this money to buy my daughter's medicine.

My daughter is well now. Thanks to the money that was in your wallet, she got well.

I want to ask for your understanding.

I cannot pay you back with money but I can pray for whatever it is you desire right now.

With gratitude,

Maria

The Gifts of Death

“I am not ready to die,” Body speaks to mind.

“Neither am I my friend,” Mind responds.

One is never ready for Death. Till the last breath, Body, Mind and Heart wish for an alternate ending to life.

“I am weak,” says Body. 

“Body, I know you are weak. I am looking for the medicine to what ails you. I know there’s a cure for your pain.”

Mind’s attempt of reassurance is met with silence.

“You cannot give up, Body. Today, like many other times in the past, I will protect you.”

Body feels cold.

“Why am I sad?” Body muses.

“Stop the sadness. Drive it away,” Mind says. “Sadness makes us weaker. I can give you happy thoughts.”

“Think of the time we jumped off the cliff. Remembering that always gives us joy.”

Body recalls the moments when they fell into the water, the warm waters felt like a warm embrace back then, but this time there is no warmth. He continues to be cold. And the coldness reaches his feet.

“No!!!!” Mind is frantic.

“No!!!” He cries and his tears blind him.  He loses sight of Body. “Body, where are you my friend? Please don’t leave. Please don’t leave me alone.”

“My love, Please hold my hand. You are not alone. I am here.”  It is Heart who speaks. He has been watching Mind and Body all along.

Heart feels Mind’s suffering. Heart feels Body’s pain.

It is clear that the end is near but only Heart accepts it.

“Mind, please hold my hand. We are together till the end.”

“It’s unfair.” Mind is sobbing, “We should live forever.”

Heart cannot muster a response; he just squeezes Mind’s hand.

Mind calms down, then Heart speaks. “She is here my friend. Are you ready?”

“Sh-she is? I am not ready Heart. Can’t we ask her for more time? Can’t we offer her anything.”

“She does not need anything from us Mind. She comes when it’s time. And it is.”

Body is motionless.

The cold continues to spread.

The toes, then the feet, then the legs. Freezing.

The fingers, then the arms, the head, then the eyes. Freezing.

Lastly, the chest. The cold reaches the chest.

Heart is the only one who can speak and he says.

 “Death our friend, please be kind”

Death, as always, is kind. She embraces the three friends and kisses them one by one and speaks of her gift to each one.

She kisses Body and says, “Rest.”

She kisses Mind and offers, “The truth that you seek.”

She kisses Heart and gives, “Courage and love.”

Heart falls silent. There no longer is the familiar beat.

For a moment that is eternity, there is only peace.

In the end; Body, Mind, Heart, Death, Life and all there is, is One.

Trial of the Century

Manila, PH - Today, we heard the sentencing of Lord Fernandez who was convicted for the crime of corruption of his true self and purpose. The trial was initiated when Fernandez published a blog post entitled “Confession”.
 

The prosecutor’s case was primarily built upon Fernandez’s confession. Here, we quote Fernandez.

“I confess to the crime of corrupting my own self. I woke up today not recognizing the man in the mirror. I look tired from carrying the burden of all the material possessions that I have acquired through the years.” 

During the trial, the prosecutor paraded Fernandez’s possessions:  multiple mobile phones, tablets, laptops, suit cases, phone cases, cameras, etc. All those possessions would have filled up Alibaba’s cave of treasures.

When Fernandez took the stand, he was asked by the prosecutor how he ended up amassing this much junk.

“When I was young, I did not have money for toys. Because of this, I could not join the boys in our neighborhood when they played with their toys. When I earned enough money to buy the big boys’ toys, I bought them. Every gadget I bought was my way of buying my place in the cool boys' clique.

“You committed bribery for acceptance.” The prosecutor proclaimed.

The public opinion on Fernandez was split. Some of them think he’s a monster while others think of him as a victim. When the guilty verdict came, even those who were sympathetic were not surprised.

Everyone expected the judge to throw Fernandez in jail but that sentence did not materialize.

The judge’s ruling today read:

“Lord Fernandez. It is odd that we even had to go through a trial when you practically plead guilty to the crime.  I am glad we did have a trial because it was enlightening and helped in determining your sentence for this so called crime.”

“In front of me is a broken man. You clearly have done a number on yourself.”

“What is the appropriate punishment for someone who is already suffering?”

“As judge, my ultimate job is to uphold justice. You admitted your crime. You have corrupted yourself and your confession is a cry for help.”

“As such, this is your sentence. Every day, look at yourself in the mirror. Tell that man, you are enough. The clothes on your back, the hair on your head, your voice and every cell in your body, your mind, and your heart make you whole. Every time you find the itch to acquire another gadget, or car, or house to buy yourself into someone’s acceptance, repeat unto yourself these words, ‘I am whole. I am enough’.”

The judge then stood up from his podium and approached Fernandez. The judge laid his hand on Fernandez’s shoulder and asked him to stand up.  The judge hugged him tight. When the judge let go of Fernandez, he said these last words, “Today, you have been judged with kindness. Remember that the next time you judge yourself harshly.” 

To Your Love I Yield

I promise

I will love you.

I vow to be by your side.

In light or in dark;

In sin or virtue;

You are held by my hands.

RESPONSE:

I sing of your love

Your vow to be by my side

In light or in dark

In sin or virtue

Your hands hold mine.

With your Love I yield

To My Divine

I promise

I will love you.

Mercy is served

In this banquet.

We partake of God’s grace,

We are filled with bliss.

RESPONSE:

I sing of your love

You serve mercy

In this banquet of grace.

Your kiss

Fills me with bliss.

With your Love I yield

To My Divine

I promise

I will love you.

Let go of your burden,

Plain may be the words

Of my lullaby;

It offers you rest.

RESPONSE:

I sing of your love

I let go of my burden

In the words

Of your lullaby

I find rest.

With your Love I yield

To My Divine

My oath of love

I profess.

I promise

I will love you

Now and

Beyond time.

RESPONSE:

Your oath of love,

You profess

Now and

Beyond time.

In response

I sing of your love

With your Love I yield

To My Divine.

Who is The Fairest?

In my past life, I was the Evil Queen - the villainess to Snow White.

In this re-incarnated life, I pay for my past life’s sins: vanity, envy, murder and (the biggest sin of all); wearing foundation that was two tones lighter than my actual skin tone.

For my atonement, the gods have been cruel; they reminded me of my evil ways by giving me back my enchanted mirror.  The Mirror was witness to the insult that the fates have handed to me.

"Who is the fairest of them all?", I once asked her.

My heart was shattered to pieces when she responded: Snow White.

Now, the enchanted mirror is no longer on the wall.  It accompanies me everywhere I go. 

Old habits are hard to break and I still ask the same question.  "Who is the fairest?"

Her answer did not change: the fairest of them all is someone else.

I tried everything that I could to change that answer.

Last year, I colored my hair blonde, wore a GQ-worthy outfit, took a selfie and applied a soft filter before I posted it on Instagram.

"Am I the fairest now?"

Mirror teased, “The fairest is Ricky Martin.”

This year, I showed off my banging body that was the result of not eating carbs for a year. I Photoshopped  it and pinched my waist smaller. I thought it was perfect.

The mirror thought that Nick Jonas was the rightful owner of the crown for fairest in Instagram-land.

Every selfie and every OOTD I posted on IG was met with the disdainful answer that I was not the most beautiful.

Tired and weary, my face showed the burden of holding on to my fading youth. Any time, I know I could face death. I'm afraid that I have not broken away from the pattern of vanity-envy-crazy.

Today, I decided to ask the Mirror, “Is there hope for me?”

She responded, "There is hope for you but stop asking the same question expecting a different answer.  And your highness, may I remind you again to address me by my proper name: SIRI."

She is right, even in her modern form as my iPhone, the enchanted mirror held the same wisdom of old that she has brought from her past life.

I asked, "Siri, What is the right question?"

She listed:

"How can I live a life of love and joy?"

"Who can I help today?"

"Where can I find peace?"

I repeated those questions and fairy dust trickled from the heavens. Siri must be right. These are the questions that will lead to freedom from the sins of my past.

Once upon a time, I was the Evil Queen. Most of this re-incarnated life; I repeated her pattern as the Drama Queen. But today, I think I have found a different path.  Today, with new questions in my heart around love, peace, charity and joy, I may have found a path to my happily ever after.

Come Clean

Today, I came clean, at the Groomers.

The Groomers is the abyss filled with horror and pain. 

The imp employed for my torture was waiting.  He started by shooting a stream of water at my chest. I shivered from the cold.  My body was wet and my fur clung to my skin.  He then rubbed soap all over me.  My eyes burned as the soap got into my eyes. I cried from the sting. 

For a moment, I caught a glimpse of you watching from behind the glass window that separated us.  I squealed to ask for your help.  No reaction.  I think you did not even see me.  Your mind seemed to be miles away.  I saw tears in your eyes.  You were crying from pain it seems like.  I wondered what the cause of your pain was.

                                       

My attention then turned to my own pain as my tormentor blasted me again with water.  I plotted to get away from him but lost all hope of escape when I realized that I was chained to the table. I surrendered to the torture.  I stopped struggling. I decided to be still.

In this stillness, I noticed, that there was something missing. I remembered that I scratched so hard last night and this morning that I ended up with wounds from digging my claws into my skin over and over again. The compulsion for me to scratch was gone.  Could it be that the water and soap healed me from the itch?  Could it be that my so called tormentor was actually my healer?

The groomer brought out another contraption that blew air that swept through my body.  I no longer felt pain and discomfort. In fact, the air felt like a gentle touch that is not unlike your touch when you pet me. I actually enjoyed that moment being bathed with air.  I then heard a voice, “Do you feel better?”  I felt a peaceful embrace. I realized it was you. You were hugging me and kissing me.

 “It’s time to come home.”

And just like that, my ordeal was done. I looked at my paws, and smelled myself, and I realized I was still my old self, after going through that suffering.  I was myself but better.  I was cleansed from the furies that drove me to scratch myself till I bled.

You picked me up from the groomer’s table and I looked at your face, I noticed that you still had tears in your eyes. 

I may not be wise but maybe you can listen to someone who journeyed through the abyss at the groomers and found healing in the end.  Whatever you are going through, should you follow my lead and come clean?  Go through your own abyss   Like me, you will get out of there, and I’ll be waiting for you when you come out to tell you,  “It’s time to come home.”

Inspiration

Body, Heart and Mind are waiting for Inspiration .  They need Inspiration to write but as always, it isn’t easy to get her to appear when they need her.  The last time Inspiration paid them a visit; Body, Heart and Mind had to jump off a cliff.

There isn’t a cliff anywhere near where they are so Body, Heart and Mind do what Mind thinks can draw her in. They bombard her with text messages which say, “Inspiration, we need you.  Please come”.

Time passes, and Inspiration does not come.

                                    

“I’m tired. I want to rest,” says Body, yawning.

“We need you to be awake when Inspiration comes.” Mind says.

Body decides to send a different text message to Inspiration, “Inspiration, we need you.  I’m tired.  Please come soon.”

The phone vibrates and Body reads the response, “Abandon all hope, only then shall I come.”

Mind stands up, paces back and forth, and then blurts out, “What does that mean, abandon hope?  I won’t abandon hope!  I need hope to get this writing done.”

At that moment, Phobos, their pet dog starts tugging at Mind’s pants.

“Mind, I think you should take Phobos for a walk.”

“That’s a good idea Heart.  I don’t think Inspiration is coming. I give up. Come Phobos, let’s go for a walk.”

As soon as Mind and Phobos get out the door, a lady in a tutu appears in the room.

“Hello my friends,”   she greets Body and Heart.

“Oh sweet inspiration, you came.”

“I’m happy to be here. Where is Mind?”

“He went out to take Phobos for a walk.”

“Perfect! It’s hard to make Magic with Mind around.  He always hope that he can control my magic.  I just wish he learns how to give up control sooner and let us do our work.”

“Are you ready to make magic?” Inspiration asks.

“We are ready.”

Inspiration sings a song.  Heart and body dance with each other to her song.  Words start to appear on the screen of the computer.   The trio is surrounded by Inspiration’s creative light.

When inspiration sings the last note, she says, “It is done.”

“This is wonderful,” Heart and Body say.

The door opens and Mind yells.

“Inspiration - you’re here. Let’s start working?”

“Hi Mind.  We’re finished. Read this and tell us what you think.”

Mind reads the piece, “This is horrible. Inconsistent tenses.  Missing punctuations.”

                                        

“My dear friends, I’d love to stay but I need to go,” Inspiration disappears.

Heart says to Mind, “Can you do us a favor and edit the piece? Make it better.”

“I will make it perfect.”

Heart and Body smile. They are happy with the piece but they trust that Mind will not be satisfied with it until he thinks it’s perfect.

“Read this.”

“Good job Mind.  Whatever can we accomplish without you?” Heart gushes.

“Nothing,” Mind says.

                              

“Can I go to sleep now?”  Body says.

“Go ahead and sleep Body.  We are done for today.  We did well.”

I Seek

Hands hold Stick

Blindfold on eyes

A Game to Seek

The paper beast

Stuffed White, Blue, Pink

With hidden treats

A voice speaks:

"Be smart, turn to your right." 

Am I smart? To the right, I turn. 

"Hit it."

Swing the stick with all my might. 

Swoosh! No hit.

An idiot,

Am I?

A voice speaks:

"Turn Left, my Love"

Am I loved?  I go to the left. 

"Hit it."

Swing the stick with all my might. 

Swoosh! No hit.

Unloved, 

Am I?

A voice speaks:

"Turn around, pretty one"

Another one speaks:

"Forward, my dear."

Am I Pretty?

Am I dear?

More voices speak

I follow Each

To be pretty,

To be loved

To be right

But each voice

Leads to Defeat

My arms are weak. 

I ask "What do I seek?" 

My heart speaks.

"Freedom, you seek,

Let go of stick. 

Let your eyes see

See what you seek."

I drop the stick,

I let my eyes see.

The voices that jeer

They're not here.

Mere Phantoms

That lead to defeat. 

Heart's voice is real.

It knows what I seek.

I seek to see

I seek to be free