Stay Plugged In
I found the story of the cinder and the lamp in one of our old devotionals that is very interesting as I face more challenges in life.
Henry Ward Beecher wrote, “A cold cinder and a burning lamp started out one day to see what they could find. The cinder came back and wrote in its journal that the world was dark. It did not find a place wherever it went in which there was light. Everywhere was darkness. The lamp when it came back, wrote in its journal, ‘wherever I went it was light. I did not find any darkness in my journey. The whole world was light.’ What was the difference? The lamp carried light with it and illumined everything about it. The dead cinder carried no light, and found none.”
Every day is a journey. Sometimes we wake up in a sunny day and in other times the sky is gray. Good days are when the doctor says you are on remission and bad days are when you are back to the same white walls. How can you rejoice if you are dying or you can’t hold your job? How can you smile if you lost a baby or someone you love was figured in an accident? Believe it or not, our emotions may depend on our circumstances.The pain we carry around spreads like a contagious disease.
It is easier to be a cinder rather than a lamp. It is easy to find faults of people and situations and inflict pain rather than praise, to grumble rather than to give thanks.
If you are a boss, you find relief by releasing your anger and frustrations to your employees and make them feel like you. Misery loves company.
Parents can make their children feel inadequate, always short of their expectations, pushing them to their limits to make up for their own failures they had made in the past.
If you have parents, there is always someone to be blamed why you have shortcomings. It has to be their responsibility not yours.
It takes a higher challenge to be a lamp. Can you rise above the circumstance or beyond the ordinary self? Can you see the flowers beyond the rain? Do you find diamonds in the mud? Have you given up hope to a seemingly hopeless situation?
To be a lamp is to be plugged in all the time to the ultimate source of light and love. His lamp never goes out even in the strongest of storms. His love is constant no matter who you are. Your sense and purpose is not determined by others but how God fits you in an intricate design He has made.
The moment you unplug yourselves from that connection, you die inside. A day becomes a long stretch of barren land, with no tree in sight. You are alone.
Every single day has its own purpose and rewards. Stay plugged in.
Summer at Tambobo Bay
oil on canvas
Watercolors
$2.00 (handpainted notecards)
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Priorities
Priorities
It was difficult to tell whether he was aware that he would die in a few months or not. His doctor said that the extent of metastases to his other organs was massive. But his calmness and hopefulness baffled his family. They wanted to tell him about the truth. His last wishes meant a lot to them. But the consequence might be more fatal than death itself. Depression might pull him down and the precious few months will turn into nothingness.
How do you talk about death? How do you break the news and allow it to sink and never be afraid? Who would dare to break the news? Are you brave enough?
This is a common dilemma to those who have encountered the big C. Others die without even knowing that they had cancer. Others simply didn’t want to know, or even cared.
It is easy to ask someone what clothes is she going to wear when she attends a birthday party. But choosing a dress that leave the last impression to her family and friends forever is another story. Most answers might be “That’s the least of my worry.” But what if she does? What if she wanted something special to make a meaningful exit? What if she had set aside many things that she had wanted to do in life thinking that there will always be time for that? What if she had waited for the right moment to tell her husband how much he had made her life complete? What if she had reserved some praises for her children, words like, “I thank God that He gave me wonderful children who made me very happy and proud?”
There is nothing wrong with hoping and praying and bargaining with God for more years… but sometimes His answer is Yes and sometimes No. We all live in a borrowed time. We live by His grace.
Five years ago, I was confronted with my own mortality when I had invasive breast cancer. Surgeries and chemotherapies followed. There were good days and dark moments. My oncologist gave me a hint that preparing a video of myself would be helpful to my family to preserve memories.
I reflected upon it thinking that to be prepared at all times wont alter God’s appointed time. I always believed that God’s plan is perfect. His purpose is always good. Death can be a taboo to humanity, but for those who hope in the salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, death is just a beginning of an eternity.
It was difficult to tell whether he was aware that he would die in a few months or not. His doctor said that the extent of metastases to his other organs was massive. But his calmness and hopefulness baffled his family. They wanted to tell him about the truth. His last wishes meant a lot to them. But the consequence might be more fatal than death itself. Depression might pull him down and the precious few months will turn into nothingness.
How do you talk about death? How do you break the news and allow it to sink and never be afraid? Who would dare to break the news? Are you brave enough?
This is a common dilemma to those who have encountered the big C. Others die without even knowing that they had cancer. Others simply didn’t want to know, or even cared.
It is easy to ask someone what clothes is she going to wear when she attends a birthday party. But choosing a dress that leave the last impression to her family and friends forever is another story. Most answers might be “That’s the least of my worry.” But what if she does? What if she wanted something special to make a meaningful exit? What if she had set aside many things that she had wanted to do in life thinking that there will always be time for that? What if she had waited for the right moment to tell her husband how much he had made her life complete? What if she had reserved some praises for her children, words like, “I thank God that He gave me wonderful children who made me very happy and proud?”
There is nothing wrong with hoping and praying and bargaining with God for more years… but sometimes His answer is Yes and sometimes No. We all live in a borrowed time. We live by His grace.
Five years ago, I was confronted with my own mortality when I had invasive breast cancer. Surgeries and chemotherapies followed. There were good days and dark moments. My oncologist gave me a hint that preparing a video of myself would be helpful to my family to preserve memories.
I reflected upon it thinking that to be prepared at all times wont alter God’s appointed time. I always believed that God’s plan is perfect. His purpose is always good. Death can be a taboo to humanity, but for those who hope in the salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, death is just a beginning of an eternity.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Which is More Important?
Priorities
It was difficult to tell whether he was aware that he would die in a few months or not. His doctor said that the extent of metastases to his other organs was massive. But his calmness and hopefulness baffled his family. They wanted to tell him about the truth. His last wishes meant a lot to them. But the consequence might be more fatal than death itself. Depression might pull him down and the precious few months will turn into nothingness.
How do you talk about death? How do you break the news and allow it to sink and never be afraid? Who would dare to break the news? Are you brave enough?
This is a common dilemma to those who have encountered the big C. Others die without even knowing that they had cancer. Others simply didn’t want to know, or even cared.
It is easy to ask someone what clothes is she going to wear when she attends a birthday party. But choosing a dress that leave the last impression to her family and friends forever is another story. Most answers might be “That’s the least of my worry.” But what if she does? What if she wanted something special to make a meaningful exit? What if she had set aside many things that she had wanted to do in life thinking that there will always be time for that? What if she had waited for the right moment to tell her husband how much he had made her life complete? What if she had reserved some praises for her children, words like, “I thank God that He gave me wonderful children who made me very happy and proud?”
There is nothing wrong with hoping and praying and bargaining with God for more years… but sometimes His answer is Yes and sometimes No. We all live in a borrowed time. We live by His grace.
Five years ago, I was confronted with my own mortality when I had invasive breast cancer. Surgeries and chemotherapies followed. There were good days and dark moments. My oncologist gave me a hint that preparing a video of myself would be helpful to my family to preserve memories.
I reflected upon it thinking that to be prepared at all times wont alter God’s appointed time. I always believed that God’s plan is perfect. His purpose is always good. Death can be a taboo to humanity, but for those who hope in the salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, death is just a beginning of an eternity.
I started my compilation, and painted more big canvasses to leave something like a legacy to my family. I created blogs and websites for my paintings and other artists who like to include their works. I documented my paintings and poems in keynote presentation to keep those who would attend my vigil from getting bored. My daughter Magenta is also my closest friend. We have talked about future plans that maybe weird to those who consider death as morbid. I need someone in my family who is brave and has an open mind about issues like that. To prepare is not about losing faith, but respecting God’s own plan.
I began to teach passionately, telling my students how blessed they are and how wonderful to be alive, and today is special, not to be wasted, but cherished, for it will never come back. I wanted to impart knowledge without holding back.
I didn’t even notice that my youngest son wanted more of my company in watching TV than seeing me in front of my easel or teaching. To him, what matters most is the family’s togetherness, counting days to have a trip to the mall, spend time with relatives, visit the farm, eat spaghetti together or simply being complete as a family.
Facing the reality of life and death as a matter of natural cycle is not easy. But it makes a lot of difference when we make the most of our time while it lasts. When I forget my priorities, my family reminds me that I can be replaced easily as a teacher, but not as a wife and mother.
It was difficult to tell whether he was aware that he would die in a few months or not. His doctor said that the extent of metastases to his other organs was massive. But his calmness and hopefulness baffled his family. They wanted to tell him about the truth. His last wishes meant a lot to them. But the consequence might be more fatal than death itself. Depression might pull him down and the precious few months will turn into nothingness.
How do you talk about death? How do you break the news and allow it to sink and never be afraid? Who would dare to break the news? Are you brave enough?
This is a common dilemma to those who have encountered the big C. Others die without even knowing that they had cancer. Others simply didn’t want to know, or even cared.
It is easy to ask someone what clothes is she going to wear when she attends a birthday party. But choosing a dress that leave the last impression to her family and friends forever is another story. Most answers might be “That’s the least of my worry.” But what if she does? What if she wanted something special to make a meaningful exit? What if she had set aside many things that she had wanted to do in life thinking that there will always be time for that? What if she had waited for the right moment to tell her husband how much he had made her life complete? What if she had reserved some praises for her children, words like, “I thank God that He gave me wonderful children who made me very happy and proud?”
There is nothing wrong with hoping and praying and bargaining with God for more years… but sometimes His answer is Yes and sometimes No. We all live in a borrowed time. We live by His grace.
Five years ago, I was confronted with my own mortality when I had invasive breast cancer. Surgeries and chemotherapies followed. There were good days and dark moments. My oncologist gave me a hint that preparing a video of myself would be helpful to my family to preserve memories.
I reflected upon it thinking that to be prepared at all times wont alter God’s appointed time. I always believed that God’s plan is perfect. His purpose is always good. Death can be a taboo to humanity, but for those who hope in the salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, death is just a beginning of an eternity.
I started my compilation, and painted more big canvasses to leave something like a legacy to my family. I created blogs and websites for my paintings and other artists who like to include their works. I documented my paintings and poems in keynote presentation to keep those who would attend my vigil from getting bored. My daughter Magenta is also my closest friend. We have talked about future plans that maybe weird to those who consider death as morbid. I need someone in my family who is brave and has an open mind about issues like that. To prepare is not about losing faith, but respecting God’s own plan.
I began to teach passionately, telling my students how blessed they are and how wonderful to be alive, and today is special, not to be wasted, but cherished, for it will never come back. I wanted to impart knowledge without holding back.
I didn’t even notice that my youngest son wanted more of my company in watching TV than seeing me in front of my easel or teaching. To him, what matters most is the family’s togetherness, counting days to have a trip to the mall, spend time with relatives, visit the farm, eat spaghetti together or simply being complete as a family.
Facing the reality of life and death as a matter of natural cycle is not easy. But it makes a lot of difference when we make the most of our time while it lasts. When I forget my priorities, my family reminds me that I can be replaced easily as a teacher, but not as a wife and mother.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Where is God?
A Journey through Cancer
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
July 19,2009
When God is Silent
I met many hurting people through this journey. Husbands who lost their wives with cancer, children who lost their fathers who had lung cancer, widowed wives, grieving parents whose children died of leukemia.
A husband who just lost his beloved wife, kept on repeating to himself, “She’s gone…my wife is not coming back. She’s dead. I can’t see her forever.” And yet when he walks to familiar streets and turns to many corners, he sees her. The memory seems to live forever. Everything and everyone reminds him of her. The emotional pain is unbearable. The distance is unfathomable. The why is endless. To him, nothing is ever going to be the same again.
Where is God, is He listening?
When God is silent, we grope for answers. Sometimes we get angry, in other times we just crumble and we want to die too.
A man whose wife has been bedridden for months could not let her go. Her pain was numbed by morphine after morphine. Her body weak and most of the times she was not lucid. She did not want to die, not because she didn’t want the pain to end but she did not want her loved ones to grieve. So she hung on. Her tired body craved for rest, but she had to cling to dear life.
He looked at her. Sadness gripped his heart as he stared at Her emaciated body which was only a shadow of her few months ago. She was dying. He knew. But he wanted her to fight. If there is a glimmer of hope in her heart he knew she would be well again. God will heal. He will. But … the next morning, she drew her last breath. He was devastated.
He turned to God. He begged Him, and He seemed to be silent. Where are you, God?
It is hard to trust when there seems to be nothing beyond the horizon. When the silver lining has turned to gray. Where Is God?
When God is silent, He listens to our heartbeats. He listens intently with His heart. He holds us so close, that when the moment comes, He wants us to be still and know that He is God. Life ‘s end is just a beginning of another journey.
Can we trust God that when He is silent, He still holds us in the palm of His hand, in sickness and in sorrow, in life and in death?
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
July 19,2009
When God is Silent
I met many hurting people through this journey. Husbands who lost their wives with cancer, children who lost their fathers who had lung cancer, widowed wives, grieving parents whose children died of leukemia.
A husband who just lost his beloved wife, kept on repeating to himself, “She’s gone…my wife is not coming back. She’s dead. I can’t see her forever.” And yet when he walks to familiar streets and turns to many corners, he sees her. The memory seems to live forever. Everything and everyone reminds him of her. The emotional pain is unbearable. The distance is unfathomable. The why is endless. To him, nothing is ever going to be the same again.
Where is God, is He listening?
When God is silent, we grope for answers. Sometimes we get angry, in other times we just crumble and we want to die too.
A man whose wife has been bedridden for months could not let her go. Her pain was numbed by morphine after morphine. Her body weak and most of the times she was not lucid. She did not want to die, not because she didn’t want the pain to end but she did not want her loved ones to grieve. So she hung on. Her tired body craved for rest, but she had to cling to dear life.
He looked at her. Sadness gripped his heart as he stared at Her emaciated body which was only a shadow of her few months ago. She was dying. He knew. But he wanted her to fight. If there is a glimmer of hope in her heart he knew she would be well again. God will heal. He will. But … the next morning, she drew her last breath. He was devastated.
He turned to God. He begged Him, and He seemed to be silent. Where are you, God?
It is hard to trust when there seems to be nothing beyond the horizon. When the silver lining has turned to gray. Where Is God?
When God is silent, He listens to our heartbeats. He listens intently with His heart. He holds us so close, that when the moment comes, He wants us to be still and know that He is God. Life ‘s end is just a beginning of another journey.
Can we trust God that when He is silent, He still holds us in the palm of His hand, in sickness and in sorrow, in life and in death?
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Your Muscles
A Journey
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
May 25,2008
MOVE THOSE MUSCLES
As the dawn breaks, a handful of early risers hike along our boulevard to catch the sea breeze and do regular exercise. The tired balut vendors at night are slowly replaced by wide eyed, brisk walking regulars who barely missed their daily routine. At noontime, the boulevard is an oasis where people seek refuge from the heat.
A mixture of different culture from the east and the west thrive in this side of Dumaguete city where food is as varied as the people who linger and finally stay.
Families love to watch the sea and the moonlight at dusk while eating tempura, peanuts, pizza or chicken barbecue. Others prefer fine dining in restaurants with international cuisines fronting the shores.
The boulevard never sleeps. During late evenings, some lonely souls are waiting for someone to come along. This has become part of the scenery even on hot humid nights and cool stormy weather. For what purpose, its between them and God.
As the century old acacia trees form canopy laces against the reddish gold horizon, the boulevard comes alive with people from all walks of life, all ages, moving, walking, jogging back and forth.
Exercise is a healthy habit. New research shows that exercise can help protect girls from breast cancer especially when they start exercising as early as 12 to 22 years old. Middle aged women are also advised to get physically active to lower the risk of the disease.
Lauran Neergaard, wrote that those who start exercising at an early age really pays off.
Researchers found that women who are physically active as teens and young adults are less likely to develop premenopausal breast cancer than those who lead sedentary or inactive lifestyle, according to the report released recently in the Journal of National Cancer Institute in the United States.
Dr. Graham Colditz of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis said that sustained physical activity from a young age through adult years is the best way to get a maximum benefit.
Colditz cautioned that “This is not the extreme athlete.” The report said that three hours and fifteen minutes of running or any vigorous exercise a week can lower the risk of breast cancer and for those who are less athletic, 13 hours a week of walking,”
There are factors that we cannot change like our genes and our environment. Lifestyle is a choice. Exersice takes a lot of willpower. And the hardest part is to start.
Come and move those muscles. Let’s take a walk at the boulevard or bike along the rugged mountains going to Lake Balinsasayao, the twin lakes, or swim in the blue green waters with powdery white sand in other parts of the islands.
Forget those piles of documents you have to read or edit, or stories you need to write. Your computer can sit all day long and won’t miss you a bit as you take a day off in paradise. God made this beautiful world especially for you. The best day is now.
By Muffet Dolar Villegas
May 25,2008
MOVE THOSE MUSCLES
As the dawn breaks, a handful of early risers hike along our boulevard to catch the sea breeze and do regular exercise. The tired balut vendors at night are slowly replaced by wide eyed, brisk walking regulars who barely missed their daily routine. At noontime, the boulevard is an oasis where people seek refuge from the heat.
A mixture of different culture from the east and the west thrive in this side of Dumaguete city where food is as varied as the people who linger and finally stay.
Families love to watch the sea and the moonlight at dusk while eating tempura, peanuts, pizza or chicken barbecue. Others prefer fine dining in restaurants with international cuisines fronting the shores.
The boulevard never sleeps. During late evenings, some lonely souls are waiting for someone to come along. This has become part of the scenery even on hot humid nights and cool stormy weather. For what purpose, its between them and God.
As the century old acacia trees form canopy laces against the reddish gold horizon, the boulevard comes alive with people from all walks of life, all ages, moving, walking, jogging back and forth.
Exercise is a healthy habit. New research shows that exercise can help protect girls from breast cancer especially when they start exercising as early as 12 to 22 years old. Middle aged women are also advised to get physically active to lower the risk of the disease.
Lauran Neergaard, wrote that those who start exercising at an early age really pays off.
Researchers found that women who are physically active as teens and young adults are less likely to develop premenopausal breast cancer than those who lead sedentary or inactive lifestyle, according to the report released recently in the Journal of National Cancer Institute in the United States.
Dr. Graham Colditz of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis said that sustained physical activity from a young age through adult years is the best way to get a maximum benefit.
Colditz cautioned that “This is not the extreme athlete.” The report said that three hours and fifteen minutes of running or any vigorous exercise a week can lower the risk of breast cancer and for those who are less athletic, 13 hours a week of walking,”
There are factors that we cannot change like our genes and our environment. Lifestyle is a choice. Exersice takes a lot of willpower. And the hardest part is to start.
Come and move those muscles. Let’s take a walk at the boulevard or bike along the rugged mountains going to Lake Balinsasayao, the twin lakes, or swim in the blue green waters with powdery white sand in other parts of the islands.
Forget those piles of documents you have to read or edit, or stories you need to write. Your computer can sit all day long and won’t miss you a bit as you take a day off in paradise. God made this beautiful world especially for you. The best day is now.
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