you have the power to create love

7/29/2019 You Have the Power to Create Love

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This beautiul book about creating love is the thirdcollection o the Boss articles rom KERYGMA. Here,nationally known author and speaker Bo Sanchez doeswhat he is best known or: From his heart to yours, heshares common stories with uncommon wisdom. Joinhim in his personal journey o deep aith and tenderlove, and your heart will overow with laughter andwarmth.

This special collection includes the most avorite o Bosarticles, including

Cherish Your Chosen One A Tiny Human Being in My Arms You Create Your Destiny Your Past Does Not Defne Your Future

This book can prooundly change the way you lookat lie.

You Have the Power to Create

LOVE

YuHathPwrt

CratLove

BO

SANCHEZ

ISBN 971-92613-0-7


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YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE LOVE

Bo SanchezThird Collection

From the National Bestselling Author of You Can Make Your

Life Beautiful and Simplify & Live the Good Life

YOU H AVE TH E POW ERTO CREATE

LOVETake Another Step on the Simple Path to Happiness


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Other Boo ks By Bo Sanchez

THE BOSS Ser ies

Thank God Hes BossYou Can M ake You r Lif e Beaut if ulYou Have t he Pow er t o Create Love

SIM PLIFY Series

Simplif y and Live t he Good Lif eSimplif y and Create Abundance

PRAYERBOOKS

EmbracedThe Way of t he CrossSpecial Prayer s f o r t he Ho ly Rosary

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE LOVETake An ot her St ep on t he Simple Path t o Happin essCop yrigh t 2002 by Bo Sanchez

Request f or in f orm atio n sho uld be add ressed t o:SHEPHERDS VOICE Pub li cat io ns#60 Ch icago St ., Cubao, Quezon Cit y, Ph ili pp ines 1109Tel No (632) 411-7874 to 77Email : subs@shepherd svo ice.com .ph


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YO U H AVE TH E PO W ER

TO CREATE

LOVE


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All rig ht s reserved. No part o f t his pu blicat ion may be repro du ced, ex-cept f or brief q uo tat ions, w ith ou t t he prior perm ission o f t he pub l isher.

Layout design by No li Vicedo

ISBN 971-92613-0-7

The st or ies in t his bo ok first appeared in KERYGMA magazine under

t he column, The Boss, by Bo Sanchez. Thi s is t he t hi rd col lect ion o f t heseries.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE LOVETake Another Step on the Simple Path to Happiness

BO SANCHEZThird collection

A KERYGM A Collection BookShepherds Voice


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cherish Your Chosen Ones 9Discover Yoursel 13

Take Delight in the Simplest Things 15Write Down 100 Dreams 19Find God in Every Place, in Everything, in Everyone 23A Tiny Human Being in My Arms 27Love Isnt a Business Opportunity 31Do For Your Soul What You Do or Your Body 35God Will Watch over You Night and Day 39Angels are Ready to Escort You 43Failures are Necessary to Teach Us Lessons 47Bless the World with One Thing 51Stop Comparing Yoursel to the World 55Be Faithul to Who You Are 59Winning Every Time 61You Have Wealth Under Your Nose 65Make Reocusing a Habit 69

Youre Always a Star 73You Create Your Own Destiny 77Complicate Your Lie 81Use The Power o Labels 85Feel your Feelings and Then Let Go 89Congratulate Yoursel: Youre Human 93Smille More Oten 97Dene Your Greatest Achievements 101Always Give Your Best Struggle 105Lear to Say No Sometimes 109Enjoy Who You Are 113See Your Fathers Tears 117Live Your Lie With Presentation 121Live Lie Knowing You Are Gazed Upon 125Open Up Your Lie to Love 129

You Have the Power to Create Love 133Receive His Love in the Most Unlikely Places 137Your Past Does not dene Your Future 141


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PREFACEIlovetowrite.

EspeciallyifIwritefrommyheart.IfIdont,thearticledoesntseethelightofday.BecausethemomentIsensethatImnotwritingfrommy

passionsanddeepestconvictions,Igetboredandpressthede-letebuttonratherquickly.

But if I write from my heart, I feel re ow through my n-gersasIpoundonthekeyboard.

Butyouknowwhat?

AsmuchasIlovewritingfrommyheart,Ilovesomethingelse more ercely that makes me want to write every day.

Letmetellyouaboutit.Overthepastyears,Icannotcountthenumberofpeople

whohavewrittentome,whohavecalledmeup,whohavetoldmetomyfacethattheirliveshavebeendramaticallychangedbecauseofwhattheyreadinmybooks.

Imhumbled.AndImgratefulforthisrareprivilege.Myfriends,youarethereasonwhyIcontinuetowrite.IwritenotjustbecauseIlovetowrite.Iwritebecause I love you.AndIpraythatthisbookchangesyourlifeaswell.Yes!You have the power to change your life.

Ibelieveinthatstatementsomuch.NotbecauseIreaditinsomebookbutbecauseIveexperi-

enceditagainandagaininmylife.Youhavethepowertobecomehappyormiserable.Youhavethepowertobecomeasuccessorafailure.You have the power to become a loving person or a selsh

person.

Thechoiceisinyourhands.Maythisbookgiveyouthecouragetochoosewelleachday.


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And in western

countries, one out oftwo marriages end upin divorce. Thats apathetic 50% failure

rate! I would neverbuy a car, a stereo, ashaver, or even a nailclipper if there wasa 50% chance that itwould conk out on me.


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CH ERI SH YOUR CH OSENON E

Gettingmarriedisthegreatestmistakeanyonecanevermake.

Beingwedistheheightofinsanity,themostludicrouscommitment,themosttotallyillogicaldecisionanyhuman

beingcanfallinto.Tellme.WhyshouldIcommitmyselftobewithone

womanfortherestofmylifeandtherebyreject3.2billionotherfemalesintheworld?Alongtheway,Illmeetagirlwhollbemorebeautiful,ormoreintelligent,ormorecharming,orsexier,orholierSowhynailmyselfdowntoonechoice,permanentlyandsuffertheagonyofsimplywatchingbeautiespassmeby?

Andinwesterncountries,oneoutoftwomarriagesendupindivorce.Thatblowsmymind.Thatsapathetic50%failurerate!Iwouldneverbuyacar,astereo,ashaver,orevenanailclipperiftherewasa50%chancethatitwouldconkoutonme.Isimplywouldnt!

Andwhystaywithoneperson insicknessorinhealth,


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0

inrichesorinpoverty,tilldeathdouspart?Ismymind

fried?IfmyshirtshrinksonmebecauseIeattoomanypizzas,dontIjustthrowitawayandbuyanXL?(Thatwillbetheday.)AndifIoutgrowmyancientcomputer,dontIjustlookforanupdatedversion?

Andthentheresthecatastrophesomecallkids.Imean,doIreallywanttowakeupinthemiddleofthenighttoentertainaself-centered,bald,toothlesstyrant

indiapers?DoIreallywantlittlerampagingmonsterstobreakthemostexpensivefurnitureinmyhouse?DoIreallywantjuvenilecreaturestostayonthephoneforsixhoursstraight,listentonoisetheycallmusicthatyoubelievecamedirectlyfromhellandmopearounduncommunicative,catatonicanddepressedbecauseanotherdementedjuvenilecreature(a.k.a.boyfriend)hasntcalledinthepast30minutes?

WhyshouldIgothroughthetorture?Marriageisinsanity.

Butafewyearsago,onmy32ndbirthday,Igavemyselfaspecialbirthdaygift:Igotmarriedtoalovelywomanandcommittedmyselftoinsaneliving.

Maroweishername,theonepersonIchoseoutof3.2billionfemales.Yes,wenowhaveatinytyrantthatwakesusupatnight,andinthenearfuture,wewillmostlikelyhavelittlemonstersthatwilldestroyourhouseduringplaytime,andcreaturesfromouterspacethatwewillcallteenagers.

Why?

Forthreereasons.FAITH.WebelievethatGodcallsusintomarriage.

CHERISH YOUR CHOSEN ONE


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AndifHecalledusthere,thatmeansHellbetheretomeet

us.We will suffer all thingsjust let us be with our God.HOPE. We condently expect the best blessings

immeasurablymuchmorethanallthehardship. God willbless us beyond our wildest dreams.

LOVE.Ohyes,therewillbeotherfemaleswhollbemorebeautiful,ormoreintelligent,ormorethisandmorethat But theyll only be just thatfemaleslike owers

in the eld of a million hectares of ower elds.ButnotthiswomanmyMarowetheonebeautiful

ower I have personally chosen, personally pickedfromherroots,personallyplantedinmyownclaypot,personallywateredeveryday,personallywatchedeveryday,andpersonallylovedeveryday.Because of my love

for her, there will be no one like her.Inmyheart,shewilleternallybethe most beautiful

ower of them all.Becauseintheend,therewillonlybefaith,hopeand

love.Andthegreatestoftheseislove.


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I believe that in real life,

getting discovered bysomeone else is not asimportant as discoveringyourself.


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D I SCOVER YOURSELF

InthepartiesthatIattend,IvenoticedacommonritualthathappensaroundtheKaraokeorVideokemachine.Ivediscoveredthreestagesinthisritual.

First, someone is cajoled to sing for the group. He rstdeclinesadamantlylikeitwasaspreposterousasrunning

forpresidentofthePhilippines.Heinfactpointstootherswhomaysingbetterbutifforsomebizarrereasonpeopledontcontinuepressingforhimtosing,youwillnoticethathewillgohomeutterlydepressedandmayevenhanghimself.

Butletssaytheritualisfollowedandpeoplekeepurginghimtosing.Thewould-besingerdeclinesnowwith

shyhumorinvitingthemtopressurehimmore.Hesaysinanestufflike,Ayoko, baka ma-discover ako.1

Thesecondstageofthisritualiswhenthesingertakesthemicrophone,pullsfromhisleftpocketanaudiocassetteandsays,Minus one ko, side A. Nakasalang nayan.2

Thethirdstagehappensafterthesong.Everyone

1I do nt w ant to , as I may be d iscovered.2M y min us on e, side A . Its ready to play.


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asksforanencorenomatterifhisvoicegiveseveryone

abriefintroductoryexperienceofthepainsofhell.TheFilipinoaudienceissupposedtopraisehimwithwordslike,Naku, kailangang may makadiscover sa yo! Kalinya mo siMartin Nievera!3

Letmefocusononepointaboutthisritual:Thiswholethingaboutgettingdiscovered.

Ibelievethatinreallife,gettingdiscoveredby

someoneelseisnotasimportantasdiscoveringyourself.Youdiscoverthebeauty,theglory,thewonderthatis

you!ListentoaquoteIgotfromMikeMurdock:

Popularity is when others like you. Happiness is whenyou like yourself.

Doyoulikeyourself?Doyouenjoybeingyou?Doyoucelebrateandthrowapartybecauseofthe

goodnessthatGodhasbestowedonyoufromtheverybeginning?

Letmesaythisagain:Dontwaittobediscovered.Pray.Bequiet.LookwithinyourselfthroughHiseyes.

Discover!Andbecompletelyawedathowbeautiful,howspecial,howwonderfulyoureallyare.

DISCOVER YOURSELF

3You have to b e discovered! You rank w ith M art in Nievera.


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TAKE D ELI GH T I N TH E

SI M PLEST TH I N GS

GuesswhatIgavemywifeontheeveofourwedding.Myhoneymoonpresent,ifyoumay.Rightafterthebigweddingofathousandguests,at

12:00 midnight, when we were nally alone in our hotelroominafarawayresortastwoawkwardandgiddy

virginswithexcitedhormonesslambangingandsloshingthroughourveins,Idecideditwastimetogivehermyhoneymoonpresent.

Wrappedinasimplebrownbag,mybridetookonelook at it and was petried.

Afterall,itwasourhoneymoonandIcouldlegallygiveheranythingsexy,sexual,sensual,seductiveand

alltheintimateswordsyoucanthinkofandGodwouldntmind.

Sheclosedhereyesandpokedherhandinthebagandpulleditout.

Andsothereitwasinallitsgreenandyellowglory,aCrayolaboxof64crayons,withbuilt-insharpenerinthemiddle.PlusthreecoloringbooksofWinniethePooh.

(Monthsback,shetoldmethatoneofherfantasieswas


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tohaveherveryown64-setCrayola.Iwasabouttoshare

myownfantasieswithherbutdecidedagainstit.)Souponseeingthecrayons,mybrideshriekedand

wenttoworkatonce.Shepouredoutthefatlittlesticksofpeachandmagentaandpinkandamberandsilverandgoldandallthewayuntil3:00AM,WinniethePoohbecamebeautifulinherhands.(Unfortunatelyforme,sheforgetabouttheexcitedhormonesslambangingand

sloshingthroughherveins.)ThatswhyIalwayssaythatourhoneymoonwasthe

mostcolorfulintheworld.Andourliveshavebeensuch!Wetakedelightinthesimplestthings.Sure,Icouldhavegivenheraone-caratdiamondring.OraladysRolex.OranewpairofFerragamos.ButIdidntbecauseoftwoimportantreasons.First,Icouldntaffordthem.Second,wewerelearningtodelightinthesimplest

things.Ihaveherealistofthingsyoucandothatsreally

downrightinexpensive.Takeastrolltogether.Watchthesunrisefromyourwindowandpray.Playwithababy.Readagoodbookunderatree.Watch a Walt Disney lm with the kids.Ordercoffee(andnothingelse)withyourbelovedone

latenightatahotellounge.Sleeptill9:00AMoneSaturday.

TAKE DELIGHT IN THE SIMPLEST THINGS


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Writeloveletterstoyourfriends.

AsearlyasApril,makeyourownChristmasgifts.Smileatstrangers.Breathe.

Takedelightinthesimplestthings.


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How can anyone be

bored in a world sobeautiful and full andexciting as this planetwere living in?


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W RI TE D OW N 100 D REAM S

Thereareafewthingsinlifethatmakemegoberserk.Oneofthemiswhensomeonesays,Imbored.Imean,howcananyonebeboredinaworldsobeautifulandfullandexcitingasthisplanetwerelivingin?

Welloneday,a15-year-oldfriendwithaluminum

ngernails and 12-inch clogs told me, Im bored. Insteadofbouncingupanddownshriekingmyheadoff,Idecidedtocalmlyask,Why?

BecausemycellphonesbustedandIcanttextanyone!

Ooooooh.Armageddoncanbreakloose,theozonelayercandisappearandanasteroidcandestroyhalfthe

planetbutthesedisasterscannotcomparetothecalamityofateenerwithouthercellphone.

Heresapieceofpaper.(Itoreonefrommydiary.)Writedown100dreamsyouwanttodobeforeyoudie.

Hereyesbulged.Onehundred?I-IneverthoughtofAfterthinkingforawhile,shesheepishlysaid,


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0

Well,Iwantedtobuythecuteavocado-greenBenetton

shirtIsawyesterdayinthemall.Isthatconsideredadream?

Illletthatpass.Writethatdownasnumber99or100.Anythingmoreexciting?

UhIoncethoughtofbecominganauthorofanoveloneday.Butnahshebrushedofftheideawithawaveofherhand.

Writethatdown,Icommanded,I will become aterric novelist.

Asshescribbledtheline,sheasked,ShouldIincludethewordterric?

Putthatdown,girl!Ialmostshouted.Whatelse?Isometimesimaginemyselfstartingmyownshop.It

willselltrinketsthatgirlslikemelovetobuy.Butitstoofarfetched

Fabulous!Writethatdown!Shewenton.Andoneday,Ihopetogiveamillion

pesostoahomefortheaged.Soon,shedidntneedanymorecoaxing.Shewaslikearunawaytrain,hereyesonre. Learn the violin. Travel to Paris and Beijing. Try skydiving

once. Become a gourmet cook. Get married and have three kids.When she nished dream number 100 (the cuteavocado-greenT-shirtwassomehowforgotten),Isaid,ThinkofsmallthingsyoucandoNOWthatwillbringyou closer to the fulllment of your dreams. Start with thenovelistdream...

Well,Icouldstartreadingnovels.Illlearnthecraft.

Fantastic!Andhowaboutthetrinketsshopidea?

WRITE DOWN 100 DREAMS


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PerhapsIcouldlearnmoreaboutbraceletsandnail

polishandhairstuffIsuggested,Youcanalsoworkinanystoreduring

summeroronweekends,eveniftheydontpayyouacent.Learnhowitworks,fromtoptobottom!

Thisisexciting!sheshrieked.Andyousayyouwanttogiveonemillionpesostoa

homefortheaged?

Donttellme,Bo.Icouldvisitthemnow!Maybemonthly!Inthatway,Illneverforgetmypromise!Gosh,Ivegotamillionthingstodo!Gottogo!Shebidmefarewellandoffshewent,thegirlwiththealuminumngernails and 12-inch clogs.

Hmm.Thatwasstrange.IthoughtIjustsawayounggirlwithouthercellphone.Happy.Imustbeseeingthings.

P.S.Writedownyour100dreams.Itmayjustdostrangethingstoyouaswell.


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I need to learn that

every situation is awindow where onecan see the workingsof heaven.


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FI N D GOD I N EVERY PLACE,I N EVERYTH I N G, I N

EVERYON E

IloveSt.FrancisofAssisi.Butevenifhehasbeenmyidolmywholelife,Ive

livedlongenoughonthisplanettorealizehowdifferentmylifeisfromhis.

OneofmyfavoritestoriesofFranciswaswhenhewas walking through a eld of owers and he ended upscreaming,Stoptalkingtome!Stoptalkingtome!Helaterexplainedthathewassooverwhelmedbywhateachower was declaring to him: God made us bloom because He

knew you were going to pass by.Wow.Imean,Wow!When I walk through a eld of owers, all I end up

screamingis,Stopgivingmeallergies!andabout17haaaachooooosperminute.

St.Franciswasthesameguywhocalledeverything

brotherandsister.Idontmindcallingthesun


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brothersunandthemoonsistermoon.ButI

thinkcallingratsbrothermiceandroachessistercockroachesisgoingalittlebittoofar.IjustsquashthosecrawlingthingswithoutanypermissionfromGod.

Hewasalsothemanwhokissedlepersandembracedthem.SimplybecausehesawGodineachofthem.Honestly, the rst time I met a leper, I didnt know whethertosimplywaveHi!orpretendIwasJapaneseandclasp

myhandsinmychestandgivehimareverentbowjustsothatIwouldnttouchhim.

YouandIneedlessonsfromSt.FranciswhosawGodineveryplace,ineverything,ineveryone.

Imlearning.Oneday,aftergivingatalktoathousandpeoplethatIthoughttobeextraordinarilyinspiring,Isteppedoffthestagefeelingveryproudofmyself.Iwasimmediatelygreetedbyafemaleparticipant,andexpectingtheusualpraiselike,Yourwordsblessmesomuch! or You are terric! I bent down towards hersothatIcouldhearheradulationabovethedeafeningapplause.Herwordshadimpact.

Shesaidsolemnly,Yourzipperisopen.

AfterovercomingmydesiretodiethatinstantandaftermentallyselectingwhatremoteislandIcouldhideinforafewhundredyears,Ibegantolaugh.BecauseIactuallybegantoseeGodinthesituation.Imayhavemissed Him speaking to me in the eld of owers, and ImaynothaveseenHiminratsandroaches(Istilldont),and I may have missed him the rst time I met the leper

(Iembracethemnow!),butIdidntmissHiminthis

FIND GOD IN EVERY PLACE, IN EVERYTHING, IN EVERYONE


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humiliatingexperience.Hewastellingme,Youre just my

mouthpiece, kid. Humble yourself and loosen up.Ohyes,IbelieveHealsowantedmetozipup.Ineedtolearnthateverysituationisawindowwhere

onecanseetheworkingsofheaven.Andeverythingisaself-donationofGod,anexplosionofHislovethatcannotbecontained.Andeverypersonissacred,burstingwithHispresence,Hiswisdom,Hisbeauty.

St.Francis,pray for us.


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The nurse came out

of the delivery roomholding a tiny humanbeing wrapped ina white sheet, his

chubby face screamingto the entire world,his small handsand delicate ngersshaking nervously.


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A TI N Y H UM AN BEI N G

I N M Y ARM S

Myson.Thesetwowordsdidntrolloffmytongueeasily.The

rst time I said it, it felt awkward. As if something didnt

t.Myson.Itfeltstrange.AsthoughIwasreadingascriptofa

play.Ihadtopracticesayingitathousandtimes.MysonMysonMysonIstartedsayingitthedayIfoundoutthatIhadababy

boythroughmywifesultrasoundtest,andIkeptsayingit

tomyselfdaily.Finally,onthemorningofJanuary21,my sonwasborn.Thenursecameoutofthedeliveryroomholdingatiny

humanbeingwrappedinawhitesheet,hischubbyfacescreamingtotheentireworld,hissmallhandsanddelicatengers shaking nervously. Baby Sanchez? the lady inthegreensurgicalrobeasked,lookingattheroomfullofexpectantfathers.


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Istoodup,holdingmybreath.

Sheshowedmemybaby.My son,IwhisperedthelineIdbeenrehearsingfor

monthsnow.Thelittleguyscreamed,Waaaaaaaaaah!Butinmyheart,Iheardhimcryout,Daaaaaaaaaad!Imsurethateveryoneinthatroomwillsweartotheir

gravesthattheydidnthearmybabysaythat.ButIdont

care.Icalledhim,myson,andhecalledmeDad,andthatsthat.Endofstory.

Peopleaskme,Whatdidyoufeelatthatprecisemoment?andIcannotevenbegintoanswer.ImsupposedtobeawriterandthereforeamasterofwordsyetIgropewithmyadjectives.Morethanthat,Igropewithmyemotions.

Joyfulisntpowerfulenough.Blissisntsweetenough.Peacefulisntcalmenough.Happyisntintenseenough.Aftermybabywaswhiskedawaytothenursery,Igot

backtomyseatinthewaitingroom.Ishutmyeyes.But

tearsescapedthemanyway.Andthenoutoftheblue,my80-year-oldfatherlumberedin.

Aswealwaysdo,weembraced.Dad,Iwhispered.Myson,Iheardhisheartsaytomine.Andsuddenly,thepast33yearsfoldedupintothe

presentandIwasnowthebabybundledinwhite,andmyfatherwasstandingoverme.

A TINY HUMAN BEING IN MY ARMS


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Myson,hesaid.

Daaaaaaaaaaaad!Icriedmylittlelungsout.Atthatpoint,forsomereason,I knew I was going to be a

great father.The80-year-oldmaninfrontofmeseemedtoagree.

Hesmiledandwebothwalkedoutoftheroominsearchofthetinyhumanbeingthatwillchangeourlivesforever.


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0

Love is like that. It is

giving oneself withoutexpecting anythingin return. If I want toget paid, then it isnt

love. Its a businessopportunity.


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LOVE I SN T A BUSI N ESS

OPPORTUN I TY

Inanoldbrownenvelopetuckedinoneofmydeskdrawers,Ihidemygreatwealth.Imsureyouhaveoneofthese,too.

Thishasbecomeaspecialceremonyforme:Onceinawhile,wheneverIfeelnostalgicorsadorhappy,Iopentheoldbrownenvelopeandforageforitscontents.Ifeelthematerialinmyhands,readit,touchit,evensmellit.Isighahundredtimes,getafewtearsinmyeyes,andcloseitupagainforanothertimedownmemorylane.

Imtalkingaboutlettersandcardssenttomeby

mychildren.1

Yes,whentheyweremuchyoungeranduncomplicated. It is lled with beautiful unreadable lineslike,I lob yu, koya Bu.Plustheirsketchesofrainbows,owers, houses and stick men. The lines are crooked. TheEnglishisbad.Thepaperandcardboardaresoiled.ButIdratherkeepthecontentsofthisoldbrownenvelopethanifIweregiventhepaintingsofMichaelangeloorDaVinci.

1These are children ado pt ed by ANAWIM , our special ministry t o t he poo r and aband oned elderly.


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BecauseMichaelangeloorDaVincididntloveme.

Thesekidsdidanddo.Tome,thisoldbrownenvelopecontainsthemost

valuableartworkintheworld.Welltoday,IperformthisritualbecauseIfeelsad.Yesterday,Iinvitedmykidsforadayoutinthecity.

Letswatchamovietomorrow!Iannouncedoverthephone.Butinsteadofhearingtheusualshoutofgleefrom

them,Ireceivedtheirsadretort,Wecant.WevegotexamsonMonday

Ouch.Aremykidsreallygrowingup?ButwasntitonlyyesterdaywhenIpickedupthese

orphansfromtheirdilapidatedbamboohutinamountainandtransportedthemtoAnawim?Withoutamotherorfathertocareforthem,theywerestarvingandcouldnolongergotoschool.

ButthisJune,somewillalreadybecollegestudents.Gosh.DidIsaycollege?How can time y so fast?Iguessallparentsexperiencethissadseparationwhen

theyseetheirkidsgetolder,havefriends,getmarriedand

leavehome.Butloveislikethat.Itisgivingoneselfwithoutexpectinganythingin

return.IfIwanttogetpaid,thenitisntlove.Itsabusiness

opportunity.

LOVE ISNT A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY


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ButIlovemykids.Andwhereverlifetakesthem,these

preciouschildrencanneverbetakenawayfrommyheart.Theylivethere,togetherwiththebrownenvelopeIholdinmyhand.


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Our bodies need

regular washingbecause we get dirtyevery day. But so doour hearts! Because

each day, people hurtus, offend us, forgetus, snub us, step onus, reject us.


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D O FOR YOUR SOUL W H ATYOU D O FOR YOUR BOD Y

Ihaveacoupleofquestionsforyou.Canyouimagineyourselftakingabathonlyoncea

month?Youllfreakout,right?Butletssaytheresawater

shortageandapresidentialdecreewasissuedthatshowerscanonlybetakenevery30dayswithamaximumoftwogallonsofwaterforeachFilipinoperbath.(Outofouringrainedhospitality,foreignersareallowedtousetwo-and-a-halfgallons.)Enteringintoanair-conditionedroomorbuswillbeanightmare,asvarioustoxicodorswillhangsothicklyintheair,itmaycoagulateintogelform.Charismaticprayermeetingswillprohibittheliftingofhands. The basketball ring will be lowered to ve feet. AndIpresumethatlightingacigaretteinacrowdedelevatorwillbefatal,asthefumesofasweatinghumanitywillbeammable by that time.

Toogrossforyou?Letschangethetopic.

Whatwoulditbelikeifyoubrushedyourteethonlyonceayear?


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Letssaysomeloonyscientistdiscoveredthattheup

anddownmotionofbrushingteethhasadirectimpacttothethinningoftheozonelayer.(Whoknows?)Sobrushingofteethhasbeenbannedbylegislativedecreenumber9002exceptonNewYearsEve.Thatistheonlydayyoucanbrushyourteeth.

ImaginehowthickyourmouthwillfeelbyNovember.Thinkwithme.Letssayyoureoutonaromanticdate

inDecember.Notmuchkissingwilltakeplace,believeme.Andasyoulookatyourbeautifuldamsel,younoticeabitofgreenlettucejuttingoutfrombetweenherteeth.

Soyoutellher,Iknowwhatyouhadforlunchthismorning.

Whatpraytell?sheteasesyou.Lettuce!yougrin.Shechuckles,Yourewrong!ThatswhatIatelast

March!Ah,thesesituationswillbequitenormal.Mymessage?ThatyouandIdomorederangedthingsthanbathing

monthlyandbrushingteethannually.

Forexample,when we do not forgive others every day.Ourbodiesneedregularwashingbecausewegetdirtyeveryday.Butsodoourhearts!Becauseeachday,peoplehurtus,offendus,forgetus,snubus,steponus,rejectus.Butifwechoosetoforgiveeveryoneeveryday,wecleanseourhearts!Wewakeupthenextmorningrefreshedandpureandlovely!

DO FOR YOUR SOUL WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR BODY


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Somepeoplehoweverwillnotwashthemselvesfrom

thehurtsofeachdaybutratheraccumulatethemweekafterweek,monthaftermonth,yearafteryear.PerhapsinsomeannualHolyWeekretreat,theydecidetoforgivealltheirenemies.Perhapswhensomeoneclosetothemdies,theyremembertocanceldebtsandliveforsomethingmorenobleratherthancollectbitterness.

But without these rare events, they just become lthier

eachday.Theirspiritsbegintosmell.And their stench becomes ammable.Forthesepeople,hellbeginsnow.Doforyoursoulwhatyoudoforyourbody.


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I guess I wasnt

such a great shepherd,because shepherdsneed to be constantlythere, protecting and

caring, 24 hours a day.But thank goodness,God isnt like meat all.


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GOD W I LL WATCH OVER

YOU N I GH T AN D D AY

HaveyoueverprayedTheLordismyShepherdfromPsalm23?

WhenancientJewsprayedthatspecialprayer,theydfeelaninnerwarmthintheirhearts.Somewouldclosetheireyesandmaybeevenshedatearortwo.Because

theyknewwhatitmeanttobeashepherd.Theyfeltit.They knew the toil, the sacrice, the hardship of beingashepherdthatloveshissheep.Iftherewasdanger,hewouldntsleepatnightortakecoffeebreaksorreadapocketbookoreventextsomeoneonhiscellphone.Hedjustwatchandbereadytolaydownhislifeforhissheep.

ButwhenmodernFilipinospraytheprayerofPsalm

23,theonlyreasonwefeelaninnerwarmthinourheartsisifwehadjusteatentoomuchcrispy pata1beforeprayingandhaveheartburn.

Wedontseeshepherds,sheep,orlambsalot.Werefamiliarwithwool,yes,butthesteelwoolvarietyforcleaningpotsandpans.Theclosestthingtosheepweveseenaregoats,andtheyrenotverydocilecreatures.They

1A Filipino delicacy: deep fri ed pig s kn uckles


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eatanythinginsight,makealotofnoise,andsmellbad

remindingusofadrunkarduncle.Sotohelppeoplefeel what it means to be a shepherd, Iask

people to think about their rst pet as a kid.Canyourecallyours?Mine was a chicken. Well, it was rst a tiny chick, and

thenachicken.Finally,itbecamefriedchicken,butthatsgoingaheadofthestory.

I cared for that chick with my life. The rst thing I diduponarrivingfromschoolwastovisitmypet,feeditwithrice,androckitinmyhand.

Afteracoupleofmonths,mychickgrewupandIstartedplayingallsortsofgameswithher:running,jumping,peckingItriedteachingherchess,butIkeptgettingachickmate.(Sorry,Icouldntresist.Ipromisenottogiveanotherpuninmyentirelife,ever.)

Butduringtheday,Iwenttoschool.AndIguessthatswhyoneday,Icamehomeanddiscoveredmyfeatheredfriendinaplatterwithfrenchfriesandcatsup.Iwasntthereforherwhensomeonebecamehungrysomeonewhotothisdayhasremainedanonymoustome.

IguessIwasntsuchagreatshepherd,becauseshepherdsneedtobeconstantlythere,protectingandcaring,24hoursaday.

Butthankgoodness,Godisntlikemeatall.Heshereforyouforlife.Permanently.Eternally.

Youwontbeanyonesfriedchicken.

GOD WILL WATCH OVER YOU NIGHT AND DAY


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Orshishkebabforthatmatter.

Hellneverleaveyouforonemoment.Hellnevertakesiestasorcoffeebreaksorreada

pocketbookortextanyoneonhiscellphone.Hewillwatchoveryounightandday.


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When I make the sign

of the cross, the irongate opens. And anangel gives me herhand. We walk into

the garden of God.


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AN GELS ARE READ Y TO

ESCORT YOU

WhenIwasanimpishkid,IrecallregularlyvisitingthecloisteredCarmeliteswithmyfamilythosecutebrown-cladnunsbehindthesteelbarsandblackcurtain.

Contemplativesisters,theycalledthemselves,butasakid,Ihadmyownsecretnicknameforthem:penguinsbecausetheylookedsomuchlikethem.Inoticedtheyweresmall;theydtrotaroundintheirblacksandalsintinylittlesteps;andtheydbobtheirheadsupanddownwhenevertheyseensomeone.

Noonecouldentertheirholyhouse,myparentstold

me.Itmustbeveryspecial,Itoldmyself,becauseonlyGodandHispenguinswerelivingthere.

Oneday,asmyfamilywasstillinsidethechurch,IranandpeekedthroughtheironfenceoftheconventtoseeiftheAlmightywasindeedthere.Allofasudden,oneofthepenguinspeeredthroughthedoorandsawme.Ifrozeinterror.Butahappyfacegreetedmeandsaid,Doyou

wanttocomein?


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Didshesaycomein?BeforeIcouldanswer,she

openedtheirongateandgavemeherhand.Iwasdumbfounded. One, two, three, four, ve I counted.Yep, she had ve ngers. Funny, I always thought theyneverhadhands.Theykepthidingthembehindtheirbrownrobes!Hmm.Mypenguintheorywasfallingapart.

Wewalkedhand-in-handanditfeltgood.Infact,IfeltIwasholdingthehandofanangel.Behold,anewtheory

inmybrainwasbeingformed.Sheledmetotheirfabulousgardenanditstruckme

howbeautifulthegardenofGodwas.Icaughtaglimpseofaguavafruithighonatree.Shesawmelookatit,soshegrabbedallofmeandliftedmeup,enoughformyhandtopluckitoffmyself.

Thefruittastedsweet,butnotassweetasbeinginthearmsoftheangelofGod.

Afterafewminutes,shecarriedmebacktothegatewheremyparentswerenowwaiting.Outside.

BecauseonlyIwasabletoenterthehouseofGod.Irecallthatexperienceandfeelthesamewayevery

timeIpraytoday.

WhenImakethesignofthecross,theirongateopens.Andanangelgivesmeherhand.WewalkintothegardenofGod.

ANGELS ARE READY TO ESCORT YOU


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IgazeatHisbeautyandeveneatthefruitofanswered

prayer.Itissweet,yes,butnotassweetasbeinginthearmsof

love.EnterintoGodshousemoreoften.Theangelsawaitontiptoe,readytoescortyoutothe

Throne.


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God knows how

to use failures.He masters in the artof recycling opslike me.


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FAI LURES ARE N ECESSARY TO

TEACH US LESSON S

SomanypeopletellmethatIvesucceededsomuchinmylife.AndeverythingIvesetmymindonhappens.TheyenumeratethemanydreamsIvehadwhichhavebecome

reality:Kerygma. Didache. Gabay. Companion. Sabbath.Anawim. Light of Jesus Community. Light of Jesus CounselingCenter. Bo,theywereoncemerethoughtsinyourbrain,theydcomplimentme,andafterawhile,wesawthemintheconcrete.Forreal.

Butyousee,peopleonlyseeonechapteroftheentirestory.

Firstofall,allofthethingsmentionedabovewerecreatedwith a bunch of seless people who didnt liketheirnamesinthelimelight.Theyletmehavetheglorysothatmyrewardsinheavenwillbeminisculecomparedtotheirs.(Rats.)

Butheresanotherthingpeopledontknow:About

myotherdreamsthathavenose-divedandcrashedtothebottomofthesea.


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In1983,Ilivedinadepressedarea,dreamingof

startingacommunityamongthepoor,plusacooperativeto assist in their nancial needs. Nothing happened. Well,notexactly.Throughthatexperience,Ilearnedtheartofsharing one lthy toilet with ve families, two of whichhadeightchildreneach.(Imnot exaggerating.)Needlesstosay,mymorningstherewereveryinteresting!

In1985,IwantedtostartaChristianrestaurant

completewithChristianmusicandfoodwithbiblicalnames.Ialsowantedtoprovidejobsforourunemployedmembers.Thatideadidntevenreachtheoven.IwantedtoservedisheslikeMarthasfullcoursemealandMosesmannaandDanielsveggiemealandEsausstewandJonahs big sh and Tobits liver and Jacobs broken hipandHeck,maybeIshouldthankGodthiswholeideadidntmaterialize.

ShouldIgoon?Icanwritea30-volumeencyclopediaentitled,THE

FAILURESOFBOSANCHEZ.Andthatlljustbetheindex!Ifyouwanttheblow-by-blowaccountofhowIfailed,youneedanentireharddrive!Ivefailed,andIve

failedreallybad.Andatthetimeofthefailure,peopledidntmincewords.Iwascriticized,ridiculed,lambasted,fried,roasted,grilled,baked,sauted,stewedandeatenalive.(Seehowmyrestaurantdreamstillhauntsmetoday?)

ButGodknowshowtousefailures.He masters in the art of recycling ops like me.

FAILURES ARE NECESSARY TO TEACH US LESSONS


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Weareallwounded.ButwoundsarenecessaryforHis

healinglighttoenterintoourbeings.Withoutwoundsandfailuresandfrustrationsanddefeats,therewillbenoopeningforHisbrilliancetotrickleinandinvadeourlives.

Failuresinlifearecourseswithveryhightuitionfees.SoIdontcutclassesandmissmylessons:Onhumility.Onpatience.Onhope.Onaskingothersforhelp.OnlisteningtoGod.Ontryingagain.

Ontryingagainandagainandagain.


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Life isnt about

trying to be anexpert in everything.Its about being anexpert in one thing

and offering it tothe world.


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BLESS TH E W ORLD W I TH

O N E TH I N G

One day, a bird, a squirrel, a sh and an eel gottogetheranddecidedtostartaschool.Naturally,thebirdinsisted on a ying school. But the squirrel argued for

training in perpendicular tree climbing. And the sh, aswimmingcollege.Theheateddebateseemedtogoonforeveruntilthe

eelproposedacompromise:Whynotletallthesethingsbeincludedinthecurriculum?

Andsotheschoolformallyopenedwithallthestudentstakingallthecourses.

The bird was glorious at ying but a big op atswimming.Itdidnttakelong,however,forhiswingstobedamaged by the freestyle and breaststroke; he nally got aC in ying, and naturally, an F in swimming.

The squirrel broke all her bones as he tried ying. (Shejumped from the tallest tree she could nd and shouted,Darna!1Itdidntwork.Shewasntinatwo-piece.)

1A lo cal sup erhero .


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And the sh? He couldnt breathe too well when he

tried climbing or ying. Until he got sort of brain damagedandwasntevenagreatswimmerattheendofthesemester.

Guesswhowasthevaledictorianoftheclass?Theeel.Hedideverythinginahalf-wayfashion.

Intreeclimbing,hesortofsquirmedhiswayup.Inswimming, he wriggled in the water. And in ying, well,

hejerked.SohegotaCinallhiscoursesandendeduphighestintheclass.(IgotThe Animal School storyfromLeoBuscaglia,inhisbestseller,Love,butIcouldntresistchangingandaddingafewdetails.)

Lifeisntabouttryingtobeanexpertineverything.Itsabout being an expert in one thing and offering it to theworld.

IveacceptedthefactthatbecauseImhuman,Imterric in one thing, good at some, mediocre at a bit more, andterrible at others. Andifyourehuman,youaretoo.Youllhavetodiscovertheonethingthatyouaregoodatandmajorinit.

WhataretheprimarygiftsthatGodhasblessedyou

with?Answerthatquestionwellandyoureonestepclosertoalifeofpeace,excitementandjoy.IvedecidedtofocusonwhereImgoodat,which

ispreachingandwriting.Cometothinkofit,Imaveryunbalanced creature. Im pathetic at sports. And at xingstuffathome.(EvenifIhaveacompletesetoftoolsathome,myfavoritetoolisstillthetelephonesoIcancall

a repairman to x whatever is broken.) And I dont think

BLESS THE WORLD WITH ONE THING


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Illeverbeamathwhiz.Managementisntmycupoftea.

Evenpastoringandcounselingarentadrenaline-pumpingeventsforme.

SoIdelegate.ButIblesstheworldwithonething:Icommunicateto

peopleaboutloveandjoyandpeaceandallthegoodstuffoflifethroughpreaching and writinghopingtochangelivesandmakethisworldabetterplacetolivein.

Whatisyouronething?


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The most difcult

thing in the worldis to be who youare not.


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STOP CO M PARI N G YOURSELFTO TH E W ORLD

We live in a pathologically dissatised world.AndImgoingtotellyouwhy.Becausewelovetocompare.Goaroundtheworldanddiscoverthatpeople

arenthappywiththeirbodies.Filipinoswanttobefair

complexionedlikeWesternersandsobuybleachingstuff.Westernerswanttoownbronzedbodieslikeoursandsopurchasetanninglotions.Thosewithmoleshavethemremoved,whilethosewhodonthaveanystrategicallyimplantbeauty spots. SomepeoplewanttoshedafewpoundstolooklikeAllyMacbeal,whileotherswanttogainsomebabyfattolooklikeDrewBarrymore.Whenare

weevergoingtostopandsimplybehappywithhowwelook?Weliveinasickworld,Itellyou.Andthatsicknessiscomparisonitis.Takealookatwealth.When we drive our old Toyota, it really suits us ne.

Wefeelblessedinfactwhentherainpoursoutsideandwe

feelsnugandcozyonitsfadedupholsteredseats.Butthe


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moment we see our own ofcemate (or neighbor, or buddy,

orcousin,orbrother)drivehissleek,skyblue,four-door,four-wheelRav4,weautomaticallyfeellikethirdclasschildrenofGod.Nexttimewedriveourbumpy,noisy,rusted,dilapidatedToyota(noticehowallthedefectscomeoutallofasudden?),wefeeldeprived,dispossessed,pariahs,totalfailures,debasedandonlyalittlehigherthantheinsectsoftheearth.

Listencarefully.BillGatestotalassetsis$60billion.Thatsmorethan

theGNPofsomesmallcountries.TigerWoodsearns$80millionsimplybysmilingonTVwearingaNikeshirt.AndthestarsofthesitcomFriendsarepaid$50,000per episode!

Mypoint?Nomatterhowhardyouwork,therellstillbesomepeoplewhowillbericherthanyouare.Andtherellbesomepeoplewhowillbemorebeautiful,havemoresexappeal,havemoreboyfriendsandhavemoreproblems.

Tryitforonce.Stoplookingaround.Dontcompare!Dontcomparehernosewithyournose.Dontcomparehiswifewithyourwife.

Dontcomparehissalarywithyoursalary.Dontcompareherbreastsizewithyourbreastsize.Dontcompareherkidsreportcardwithyourkids

reportcard.Dontcomparehisprayergroupwithyourprayer

group.Dontcomparehercellulitedepositswithyourcellulite

deposits.

STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO THE WORLD


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Forcryingoutloud,stop comparing and start living!

Andyoullbehappierwithyourlife,Iguarantee.Thisiscrucial:The most difcult thing in the world is to

be who you are not.Pretendingandtryingtobesomeoneelse is the ofcial pastime of the human race. (I dont thinkdogsandcatsandcowsandhorseshavethisproblem.)

Andtheeasiestthingintheworldistobeyourself.Behappy.Live!TheremustbeareasonwhyGodmade

youtallorshortorfatorthinorbumpyallover.Lovewhoyouare!


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I believe that if

I will do what myCreator wants meto do, Ill end updisappointing

a lot of people.


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BE FAI TH FUL TO W H O

YOU ARE

Letmesharewithyouasimplesecretinsucceedinginlife.

Dontevertrytopleaseeveryone.

IvebeenaleaderofCatholicorganizationsfortwodecadesnow.IfItrytopleasealltheexpectationsthatpeopleheaponme,IneedtobePadrePioandBillGatesandFrancisofAssisiandJohnRockefellerandandClarkKentrolledintoone.

Talkaboutsevereschizophrenia!SomewantmetobePadrePio:Bo,yourearly

morningprayertimedoneatfourinthemorningshouldlastforthreehours.Youshouldlevitateonceinawhile.Whenyouwalkaround,weshouldsmelltheodorofsanctityandseeabeautifulglowonyourface.Jeepers,Ihavesometypeofodor,thatIknow.ButIdoubtifitssacred.(Spelloutmyname.Remindyouofsomething?)

OtherswantmetobeBillGates,thegreatCEO:As

ourleader,youshouldmanageawell-knit,well-run,well-


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oiledorganization.Youshouldimplementreengineering,

developourmarketingniche,andworktowardsISO9002systemsinourprayergroup.

OtherswantmetobeSt.FrancisofAssisi,theascetic:Bo,youshouldliveinpoverty,wearsecond-handclothes,andnevertouchorownorthinkofmoneyatall.Driveabeatup,rusty,dilapidatedcar.Andliveinasquattersarea.

AndyetanothergroupofpeopleinsiststhatIbeJohnRockefeller, the philanthropist. When we have nancialneeds,itllbeniceifweseeyoudigdeepintoyourpocketandhelpuswithourchildrenstuitionfees,ourhospitalbills,ourshoppingsprees.

SomewishmetobeClarkKent:Idontcareifyourscheduleisfull.Youhavetobethereforme!Bemypersonalbestfriend.Dontjustbemyleader!Phonemeeverydayandvisitmyhomeeveryotherday.Fortwothousandmembersofmyorganization?

Iveacceptedthistruth:I believe that if I will do what myCreator wants me to do, Ill end up disappointing a lot of people.

Imnotallthesecharacters.

ImBo.AndIlikebeingBo!Godhascreatedmetobethisparticularpersonwithmyownsetofstrengths,weaknessesandidiosyncrasies.

Donttrytopleaseeveryone.Disappointpeople!Knowyourcall.Andanswerit.

BE FAITHFUL TO WHO YOU ARE


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W I N N I N G EVERYTI M E

Behonestwithme.DoyoubuyLottotickets?AnddoyoupraythatGod

willhelpyouwin?Youmaybedoingoneofthefollowingtechniques:(1)prayingbeforeyousleepthatyoulldreamtherightnumbers;(2)cuttingtheBibleandnotingthe

numbersofthechapterandverse;and(3)promisingorbribing(dependingonhowyoulookatit)theAlmightythatyoullgiveaway50%ofyourprizetoanorphanageifGodwillmakeyouwin.

Hey,IknowofonepriestwhoboughtaLottoticketandwon40millionpesos!Overnight,hebecamethemosteligiblebachelorintown.Toshooawayallthewomen

liningupathisconfessionalbox,hequicklydonatedhisprizemoneytotheChurch!

IalsoheardofonejanitorwhowonmillionsinLotto.Heresignedandsaidgoodbyetohistoilet-scrubbingdaysandwentofftoliveasaking.Butafterafewmonths,thekingcamebacktohisoldcompanybeggingforhisdirtymop!Hefeltsolonely,hewantedtocleantoiletsagain.Soif by chance you catch a guy mopping oors yet sporting a


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RolexwatchandwearingBallyshoes,youwontwonder.

TheymadethissurveyofpastLottowinnersintheU.S.andtheyfoundsomethingmind-boggling:Manyofthemexperiencedmiserynothappinessduetotheirsuddenplopped-from-the-skywealth.Manyex-winnershadasadtaletotell,from broken marriages to kids on drugsto a total loss of personal meaning.Theysimplydidntknowhowtohandlethepotofgold.Infact,manyofthem

reportedthemoneylonggone.Vanishedratherquickly,aseasilyasitappearedbeforetheireyes.Butthedevastationandhurtremained.

No,IhavenotyetboughtaLottoticketinmylife,butIdorecallbuyingSweepstakesticketspeddledbyblindbeggars.Lord,makemewin,Idintonebeneathmybreath,smilingdeliciouslyatthethoughtthatperhaps,Godwouldrewardmeforhelpingtheneedy.Well,wonderofwonders,Godhasntansweredmyprayersonebit.

Hestotallyignoredthem.ProbablylaughedaloudonHisthronewhenHeheardmypleaandtoldtheangelsaboutit,whointurngiggledtheirwingfeathersoff.

Buttoday,IreallythankGodthatHestotally

disregardedmywish.BecausenowIrealizeHelovedmetoomuchtosayYes.

WhoknowswhattroubleandheartachewouldhavebefallenmeifIhadwon?

Istillbelievethatthebestprayerintheworldis,Lord,Your will be done.

WINNING EVERYTIME


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Nexttimeyouprayanykindofprayer,whetheritbe

fortheresolutionofhealing,orforahouse,orforacar,orfor a husband, or for a family conict, or for a solution to aproblem,tellHimHecansayyesorno.

Becauseintheend,youreawinner.Every time.


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Adultery happens

when you startlooking for whatyou dont have. Butfaithfulness happens

when you startthanking Godfor what youalready have.


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YOU H AVE W EALTHUN D ER YOUR N OSE

Adulteryhappenswhenyoustartlookingforwhatyoudonthave.

Bo, this girl in my ofce is a real looker, many ahusbandwillsay.ButitsnotherWynonaRiderfeatures

thatgettome.Imheadoverheelswithherbecauseshesalsounderstanding,intelligent,tendersomanythingsthatmywifeisnot.

Sure.Guys,trustmeonthis.Somewherealongtheway,

youll nd a woman who will be more charming. Morealluring.Morethoughtful.Richer.Abettercook.Havegreater sex appeal. A more efcient housekeeper. And youwill nd a woman who will need you and pursue you andgolocooveryoumorethanyourwifeeverdid.

Becausenowifeisperfect.Becauseawifewillonlyhave90%ofwhatyoure

lookingfor.

Soadulterytakesplacewhenahusbandlooksforthemissing10%.


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Letssayyourwifeismelancholicbynature.Youmay

nd yourself drawn to the pretty clerk who has a cheerylaughnomatterwhatshesays:Ibrokemyarmyesterday,HahahahaOrbecauseyourwifeisahomebodyinslippers and pajamas, smelling of garlic and sh oil, youmayfallforafresh-smellingyoungsalesrepresentativethat visits your ofce in a sharp black blazer, high heelsandaredpencil-cutskirt.Orbecauseyourwifeisthe

quiet-type (a rare nd), your heart may skip a beat whenyou meet an old college ame who has the makings of atalkshowhostlikeOprah.

Butwait!Thatsonly10%ofwhatyoudont have.Dontthrowawaythe90%thatyoualreadyhave!Thatsnotall.Addtoyourwifes90%the1000%that

representsalltheyearsthatyouvebeenwitheachother.Thestormsyouveweatheredtogether.Theunforgettablemomentsofsadnessandjoyasacouple.Themanyadjustmentsyouvemadetolovetheother.Thewealthofmemoriesthatyouveaccumulatedaslovers.

Adultery happens when you start looking for what you donthave. But faithfulness happens when you start thanking

God for what you already have.ButImnotjusttalkingaboutmarriage.Imtalkingaboutlife!Aboutyourjobs.Aboutyourfriends.Aboutyour

children.Aboutyourprayergroups.Aboutyourlifestyles.Areyouliketheeconomyairlinepassengerthat

perennially peeks through the door of the rst class cabin,

YOU HAVE WEALTH UNDER YOUR NOSE


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obsessedwithwhathesmissing?Theyvegotmoreleg-

room!Ohmy,theirfoodisservedinporcelain!Wow,theirseatsreclineatan80degreeangleandtheyvegotpersonalvideos!Iguaranteeyoullbemiserablefortheentiretrip!

Dontliveyourlifelikethat.Forget about what the world says is rst class. (Do you

know that there are many rst class passengers who aremiserable in rst classbecause theyre not riding in a

privateLearJet?)Mymainmessage:If you start thanking God for what

you have right now, wherever you are is rst class!Youhavewealthunderyournose.ThankHim.


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We probably need

to get away withHim. Talk with ourLover. Take a secondhoneymoon with

Him. Or a third,or fourth, or fth


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M AKE REFOCUSI N G A H ABI T

WhenIenterarestaurant,Iimmediatelyknowwhosmarriedandwhosonlyengagedorgoingsteady.Imsureyoudotoo.

Theunmarriedloversareseatedveryclosetoeachother. So close in fact, that microbes will have difcultypassing between them. Their hands are joined, their ngerswedged,theirlegsintertwined,theirtoeslinked.(Lookbeneaththetableclothandyoullseeaverysensualloveaffairtakingplacerightthere.)

Mostcritically,youwillalsonoticethattheireyesarexed on each other and nothing else. Their mutual gazeisnailed,gluedandcemented.Theirfoodiscoldonthetable,barelytouched.Becausenothingelsematters.Therestaurantmightbeburning,anasteroidmightcome

crashingthroughtheroofandanuclearwarheadmightsuddenlylandontheirtableandtheywouldntevennoticeit.Oooh-la-la.Becausetheyreinluv.

Marriedcouplesactquitedifferently.The rst thing you notice is that they sit apart. A ten-

wheelercanpassthroughthemquitenicely.Botharebusyeating,slicing,forking,spooning,

dippingandmunching.


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Nosensualforeplayistakingplacebeneaththe

tablecloth.Theireyes?Dartingleftandright,scanningthe

architecture,surveyingtheinteriordesign,countingthelightbulbs,critiquingthewaiters,observingtheothercustomers.Ohyes,everyothercustomerintherestaurantiscross-examined,theirfashionstyledenounced,theirhairdressercondemned,theirpersonalhistoryconjured,

their nancial worth assessed and their body weightridiculed.

Soundsfamiliar?Inaword,marriedcouplestendtobeunfocused.

Theynolongerseeeachotherfortheothergetslostintheminutedetailsofthebackground.Liketuitionfees.Toilettraining.Houseamortization.Terribletwos.Orthodontistsbills.Wrinklesandoverlappingcellulite.

Andthenwecomplainthatwehavefallenoutoflove!Asthoughwearevictimstothingswehavenocontrol

over.Baloney. (Too unlipino? Let me rephrase. Longganisa.)Happy couples make it a habit to refocus.Becauseits

quitenormaltobedistracted.Sotheytalk.Theygetawayforawhile.Theypray.Theygoonamarriageretreat.Theytakeasecondhoneymoon.Orathird,orfourth,orfth

OurloverelationshipwithGodsuffersthesamedisease:Wegetunfocused.

MAKE REFOCUSING A HABIT


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After some time, we lose our rst love for Jesus. We

fallinlovewithourspiritualcommunity,orwithpastoralcare, or with spiritual knowledge, or with our nancialblessings,orwithoursuccessfulministryWestartlosingourfocusonGod.Wegetlostintheminutedetailsofthebackground.

WeprobablyneedtogetawaywithHim.TalkwithourLover.TakeasecondhoneymoonwithHim.Orathird,or

fourth, or fth

Makerefocusingahabit.


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Never go after

fame. In the heartof God, yourealways a star.


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YOURE ALWAYS A STAR

ImagineImanaspiringactor.Youmustagreethatwith my looks, it wouldnt be too difcult to picture thisscenario.Afterall,thehorrorgenreisaplenty.

They tell me that there are ve stages that every tinsel

townpersonalitymustgothrough.Letmeshowyoutheanatomyoffame.

Stage#1:WhoisBoSanchez?Thisisthestartingpointofeveryfame-hungryperson:

Youre a nobody. You have to make your rst appearanceon lm, even if your role is that of a costumed freakish

alienthatgetspulverizedbythestarattheopeningsceneof the movie. It might be difcult to imagine now, but evenMadonnaandDemiMoreandJuliaRobertswentthroughthestagewherepeopleasked,Whosshe?

Stage#2:GetBoSanchezThissecondlevelisintoxicating.Bysomestroke

ofluck,yougetrecognizedforyourthrillingtalentorthrillingbody.Yournameisbandiedaroundinthestudios,


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andasmallfansclubisformingnolongerorganizedby

yourmother.Yourpricetagisstillascending,soallmovieoutts ght for the right to make your rst box-ofce.Asyouwalkinthemall,youcountthenumberoftimespeopleaskforyourautograph.Whenyougettiredofthis,youstartwearingshades.Ahhhh.Youhavearrived.

Stage#3:GetmeaBoSanchezlookalike

Thepeak!Yourfaceisseenonads,tabloids,billboardsandTVgossipprograms.Youreeverywhere!Onlythebiggestproducerscanaffordyounow.Sosmallermediacompanieswillsettleforyoungartistswholooklikeyou.Yourenowroyalty(e.g.concertqueen,kingofpop,box-ofce king, soap opera queen). Finally, you know youvereachedthishighpointwhenyoucannolongerwalkinamallwithoutahugecrowdfollowingyouhystericallyscreaming,Aaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy!

Stage#4:GetmeayoungerBoSanchezButbeforeyouknowit,theinevitablehitsyou.You

hearyourdirectoraskforsomeonelikeyouwhosten

yearsyounger,tenyearssexier,tenyearsbolder.Youfeeloffendedwhenscriptwritersofferyoumotherlyroles.Soon,however,nootherrolescomeexceptmotherlyroles.Yourpricetaggetsslashed.Yournameshrinksinmovieads.Yourfansclubisreducedtoahandfulofloyalists,andwhentheycongregatearoundyou,youwonderifyoureinsomehighschoolreunionofclass27.

YOURE ALWAYS A STAR


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Stage#5:WhoisBoSanchez

Youmeetsometeenswalkingdownthestreetandtheypassyoubylikeyouwereatelephonepost.Ouch.Onceinawhile,agrandmotherpointstoyouandherfamilylooksatyouquizzically.Youfeellikeaprehistoricartifactinamuseumbeingsurveyed.Andthentheywalkbyyou.Doubleouch.

Andthenithitsyou:Youreanobody.

AndyourealizewasntIherebefore?

Nevergoafterfame.IntheheartofGod,yourealwaysastar.Alwayswere,alwayswillbe.


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If we dont like our

jobs, if we dontlike the state of ourrelationships, if wedont like whats

happening to ourspiritual liveswehave no one to blamebut ourselves.


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YOU CREATE YOUR OW N

D ESTI N Y

Letmetellyouastory.Threeconstructionworkerswereontopoftheirhalf-

nished skyscraper.

Rrrrrrrrrng!thelunchbellsounded,andthethreemensatonasteelbeamofthe56th oor with their lunchboxesinhand.

The rst guy opens his and groans in exasperation,Tuyo!1ThereisnotadaythatIdontgettuyoforlunch!Heturnstohisbuddiesandannounces,Markmywords.IfIstillgettuyo tomorrow,Imgoingtothrowmyselffrom

thisbuilding.Thesecondguyopenshislunchboxandmoans,

Tinapa. Everyday,Igetthisforlunch.Helooksathisfriendsanddeclares,BelievemewhenIsaythis.IfIgettinapa tomorrow,Imgoingtojumpfromhereandkillmyself.


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Thethirdguyopenshislunchboxanditwashisturn

todespair,Galunggong. AllIgetisgalunggong! Helookstohisco-workersandsays,Imtellingyou,ifIstillgetgalunggong tomorrow,Imgoingtojumpfromthisbuildinganddie.

Thenextday,thelunchbellringsandallthreemenareagainseatedonthe56th oor.

The rst guy opens his lunch box and starts crying,Tuyoooooo! Andsoinfrontofhisshockedcompanions,hejumpsoffthebuildingandcrashestotheground.

Thesecondguyopenshislunchboxandwailsloudly,Tinapaaaaaa! Andbeforehisremainingfriend,hejumpsoffthebuildingandhitsthegroundanddies.

Thethirdguyopenshislunchboxandscreams,Galunggonggggg! Andsohetoojumpsoffthebuildinganddies.

Dayslater,duringthefuneralofthethreemen,theirthreewivesembraceandbegintoweeptogether.

The rst wife cries out, I didnt know my husbanddidntliketuyoanymore!Whydidnthetellme?Ifonlyhehadtoldme,Iwouldhavepreparedsomethingelse!

Thesecondwifeechoedherstatement,Yes!IfonlyIknew,Iwouldhavecookedsomethingelse,nottinapa!Thethirdwife,betweensobs,spokeup,Idontknow

whymyhusbandkilledhimself.Thetwowiveslookedathercuriously.Why?

Shegoeson,Becausemyhusbandpreparedhisownluncheveryday.

YOU CREATE YOUR OWN DESTINY


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Ilovethiscrazystorybecauseitpresentsavery

importanttruth:all of us prepare our own lunch. Ifwedontlikeourjobs,ifwedontlikethestateofourrelationships,ifwedontlikewhatshappeningtoourspiritualliveswehavenoonetoblamebutourselves.

BecauseGodhasgivenusfreewill.Hehasgivenusthepowertoprepareourownlunch.Ifwewanttoputmorejoyinourmarriages,ifwewant

togrowinourrelationshipwithGod,ifwewanttoearnmoreandbefreefromdebtthengobacktoyourkitchenandprepareyourselfanotherdish.

Becauseyoudesignyourownfuture.Youcreateyourowndestiny.Askyourself?Whatkindoffuturedoyouwantto

have?Whatkindofmillennium?Youdecide.

1All t he Filipi no w ord s here are common fish dishes


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As long as you

complicate yourlife because of love,then its glorious.


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COM PLI CATE YOUR LI FE

Mytitlesoundsshocking,especiallycomingfromsomeonewhosknownbyeveryoneasMr.Simpleaguywhodoesntevencombhishairanddoesntwearawatchand who dons a 70s outt not because its faddish butbecausehestrappedinthatera.

Butyousee,Idontbelievethatsimplicityisthegreatestthingintheworld.Takemylifeforexample.Ivedeliberatelycomplicated

itthesepastfewyears.Irememberafewyearsback,Iwrotethesearticles

withnaryadistractionexceptperhapsforthefewstraymosquitoesunderneathmycomputertable.

Today,themosquitoesdontbothermeatall.Itstheone-year-oldthiefindiapersunderneathmytable,grabbingmycomputerkeyboardandtypingintongues.

WhenIwasasinglemansometimeago,Ididntevenknowwhatsavingsmeant.Today,Ihavetodealwitheducationalplans,healthinsuranceandsoundinvestments.Andevenifthethief-in-diapersisstill

toothlessasofthiswriting,Imseriouslysavingforhisteethbraces,whichIhear,costmorethanmycar.


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Duringmysingledays,Irecallsaunteringoffbymyself

toalonelymountaintoprayforadayortwowheneverIsodesired.Idbringaguitar,aBible,andatinypicnicbasket.Allbymyquietself.

Thatwillneverhappenagaininmypresentlife.Becausenow,Idhavetobringaguitar,aBible,apicnicbasket,mywife,mybaby,hisdiaperbag,histoybag,hisfoodbag,hisclothesbag,hisbottlebag,hiscarriage,his

carseatAndonthatmountain,Icanonlyprayaslongas

thethief-in-diapersisnapping.AndthemomentIplaytheguitar,heinstantlywakesupandstrumsitformeusheringtheendofmyquietprayertime,andsignalingthestartofmydistracted,noisy,harassedprayertime.

Therearedayswhenathoughtcrossesmymind:WhyonearthdidIgetmarried?Whatinsanitycameoverme?WhydidIcomplicatemyverysimple,happy,singlelife?

Butimmediately,theanswercomesforcefullywhenIseemylovingwifeplayingwithoursmilingbabyinher arms. Peace overows my heart as I realize that Iveexchangedmyverysimple,happysinglelifeforavery

complicated,happymarriedlife.WhyhaveIcomplicatedmylife?BecauseIhavedecidedtolove.AndheresthelessonIvelearned:As long as you

complicate your life because of love, then its glorious.Congratulateyourself.Becausesimplicityisntthegreatestthingintheworld,

butlove.Letmegiveyoutwootherexamples:

COMPLICATE YOUR LIFE


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IfyouregoingtojoinaCatholicgroup,believeme

whenIsaythis:yourlifewillgetcomplicated.(Takeitfromonewhosbeenpartofcommunityfor20years.)Whycomplicateyourlifewithweeklymeetings,heavyresponsibilities,tiringministriesandqueerpersonalities?Whygetintorelationshipsthatwilldisillusionyouintheend?Whyfollowleadersthatyouknowwilldisappointyouoneday?

Amorebasicexample:WhywillyoucommityourentirelifetoGod?Imean,

wontitbeeasierjusttobeanominalCatholic?AllyouhavetodoisgotoMassonSundaysandprestoyoureguilt-free.Youcandowhatyouwanttodotherestoftheweek.YoudonthavetothinkaboutpleasingHimeverymomentofyourlife.YoudonthavetoloveHiminyoureveryword,thoughtanddeed.Thatsjusttoocomplicated!

Makeyourlifesimple.

Simplymeaningless.


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Because you

become the labelsyou give yourself.


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USE TH E POW ER OF LABELS

Thesepastmonths,Ivebeenbusybuildingmytinyhome.

Itssotiny,wheneverIopentherefrigeratordoor,youdthinkIinstalledcentralizedair-conditioninginmyhouse.

ButIdeterminedthatnomatterhowsmallitwas,itwasgoingtobepretty.LikeIwantedthewallstobecoveredwithredbrickstogivethemthatrustic,countrylook.SoIaskedmycontractorifthatwaspossible.

Sure,hesaid,butheaskedme,Doyouwantnewbricksoroldbricks?ThatonequestionintroducedmetoaworldthatIdidntknowexisted.

Whatkindofcreaturesareoldbricks?Iinquired.Theyre40-yearoldbricksthathavebeenusedinold

homes.Theseoldbricksarediscoloredanddeformedanddisgured with age. In other words, theyre ugly.

Iftheyrecheaper,Illtakethem!Mycontractorlaughed.Theoldbricksarethreetimes

moreexpensivethanthenewones.


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Myjawdropped.Icouldntbelievemyears.

Heexplained.Thenewbricksaresoperfectanduniform,theyreboring.Theoldanduglybricksontheotherhandhavecharmandcharacter.

Wow.ThelasttimeIheardthewordscharmandcharacter,theyweredescriptionsofboyfriendsandgirlfriends.

Needlesstosay,IwassointriguedbytheseoldbricksI

decidedtoblowmybudgetandsplurge.Alright,givemetheoldbricks!Iannouncedtomycontractor.

Goodchoice!hesaid.Theycostonethousandpesospersquaremeter.Howmanyshallyouorder?Myjawdroppedagain.Ibegantocomputeonmycalculator and told him my answer as condently as Icouldsayit.Giveme12bricks.

Twelvesquaremeters?mycontractorasked.Uhno12pieces.ThatsallIcanaffordrightnow.Thefollowingweek,my12bricksarrived.Theywereuglyallright.Discolored,misshapen,

broken, pock-marked, deformed and disgured. One ofthem even had grafti on it. But after the mason plastered

themonthewall,theywereexquisitelybeautiful.Charmandcharacterwrittenallovermywall.Whosaidthesebrickswereugly?People.Andwhosaidthesebrickswerebeautiful?People.Why?

Becauseofthepoweroflabels.

USE THE POWER OF LABELS


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Becausebeautyisalwaysintheeyeofthebeholder.

Becauseyou and I have the power to impute beauty onanything under the sun.

Sonexttimeyoulookataglossyfashionmagazinethattellsyouthatyoureuglybecauseyoureyebrowsarent plucked, or your skin is crater-lled, or your waistmeasurementismorethanyourIQdontbelieveit.Because you become the labels you give yourself.

Ifyoudeclareyourebeautifulnotdespiteyourimperfections,butbecauseofthemthenyouare.

Dontbelieveme?Visitmybeautifultinyhomewiththetwelvebricks.Illevenopentherefrigeratordoorforyou.


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Negative emotions are

the windows of oursouland they willteach us about who weare and what exactly

we need from God.


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FEEL YOUR FEELI N GS

AN D TH EN LET GO

Howareyou,Phillip?Iaskedafriendoneday.Phillip retorted, Im ne. My son died in an accident,

myhouseburneddown,mywiferanawaywithanother

man,IlostmyjoblastweekandmydoctortoldmeIhavelungcancer.Asidefromthat,Imokay.Phillipisthemodelstoic.Iveexaggeratedhis

calamitiestogiveyouapictureofawrongwayofhandlingnegativeemotions:Todenythemandcoverupourpain.

ImnotsurprisedthatPhilliphascancer.Why?

Becauseanyinnerpainthatwedontallowourselvestofeelwillmanifestitselfthroughtumors,hypertension,heartdisease,musclepains,ulcers.Becauseofthis,Ihaveafascinatinghunch:IbetthatifIcanonlyhelppeopleacknowledgeandfeeltheirhiddenemotionsofanger,fear,worryandgrief,Idprobablybeabletoremove50%oftheirphysicaldiseases.

Becauseourbodiesareblueprintsofouremotionallife.SandraontheotherhandisPhillipsopposite.


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Howareyou,Sandra?Iaskedheroneday.

OhBo,shecrumpleddownonmyshoulder,Idontknowwhattodowithmylife.Everyonehatesme.Noonelovesme!

Do I cry with her? The rst time, yes. But the 86 time?Ivegottenusedtoherdrama.BecauseeverytimeI

seeSandra,shealwaysbreaksdownintoariveroftears.Only to nd out that her world was about to end because a

favoriteshirtgotdamagedinthewashingmachineorherdogdidntwaghistailather!

ThegoodnewsisthatbetweenPhillipandSandra,theresamiddlepath:Whenwerespectournegativeemotionsasfriends,notmonsters;asteachers,notmasters.Negative emotions are the windows of our souland they willteach us about who we are and what exactly we need from God.

Inaword,emotions need to befelt. Andthen,unlikeSandra,youcanletgo.Because you cannot let go of whatyou have not held!Therearenoshortcuts!Youcantgoaroundthem,overthemorskipthem.Theonlywayisthrough thenegativeemotion.

Mysuggestionissimple.

Wheneveryoufeelsadorlonelyordepressedorangryorfearfuldontrunawayfromthefeeling,coveritupwithbusynessorentertainment,orworse,silencethenegativefeelingwithanaddiction.(Alladdictions,whethertodrink,food,bulimia,shoppingorsex,areanescapefromfeelingswedontwanttoface.)Myprescription:Wheneveryoufeelanegativeemotion,be

aloneinaroomandjustsitdownwithitandfeel it.Dont

FEEL YOUR FEELINGS AND THEN LET GO


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judgeit,criticizeit,intellectualizeit,explainitaway.Allow

yourselftofeelthepain.Itsokay.(Feelingsarenotsin.CheckoutthePsalmsifyoudontbelieveme!)Accompanyitbreatheintoitandafterawhile,youllfeeltheangerorfearorsadnessloseitsurgencyandpower.Allow God totenderly embrace you in your pain.

Andthen,attherighttime,youcanletgo.Whenyougethealedof50%ofyourdiseases,Illbill

you.


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Congratulations

because yourehuman. Do you thinkmarried womendont get attracted to

men other than theirhusbands?


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CON GRATULATE YOURSELF:

YOURE H UM AN

Helpme,Bo.Imfallinginlovewithmyboss.IveknownLucyforsometimenowandhersilliness

betraysadeepspiritualmaturityinthismarriedwoman.

Tellmeaboutit,Isaidsolemnly.OhBo,hesgorgeous.HesacuteAmericanandIgetredalloverwheneverIminfrontofhim.

PierceBrosnanlook-alike?Hesgotalongnoseandyouknowmyhusbands

pango.1Letmeguess.YourhusbandsprobablyFilipino.

Andyoushouldhearmybosstalk.HespeaksEnglishso uently.

Hmm,IwonderwhyOhBo,whatshouldIdo?Ismiledandsaid,Firstofall,congratulations.Forwhat?Ifeeldirty.Sinful.Eviltothebone.Idont

likefeelingthisway.Bo,Imamarriedwoman!

9flat nose


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Congratulationsbecauseyourehuman.Doyouthink

marriedwomendontgetattractedtomenotherthantheirhusbands?

Well,Ithoughtitwouldnthappentome.Letmeaskyouafewquestions.First,doyouseeyour

bossinprivateplaces?Ofcoursenot!Idontevendarerideinthesamecar

withhimevenifitsabusinesstrip.Ijustpopupwherever

themeetingis!Goodgirl.Doyoufantasizeabouthim?No.IdliketobutIvebeenabletogetridof

thoughtslikethatsofar.Fantastic.Nextquestion:Whenyoudressupinthe

morning, do you nd yourself dressing better, putting onmoremakeup,for Mr.PierceBrosnan?

Ohwhydoyouknowmytorments?Itsmyjob.Honestly,Igettemptedtodothat.WhenIopen

mycloset,IwanttopickthesharpestdresswithagreatmatchingscarfwhenIknowIllbeinameetingwithhim.ButIsimplysayno.

Lucy,canIcongratulateyourhusbandrightnow?Hesoneluckychap.Shesmiledandhuggedme.Thanks.Iknewyoudsay

that.Okay,Ivegotafewrecommendations.Imwritingitdownhere,shepointedtoherbrain.DoyouhaveapictureofMr.Pangoonyourtable?

Yes.

CONGRATULATE YOURSELF: YOURE HUMAN


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Good. Enlarge it. About ve meters by nine meters.

Shelaughed.Next?Canyourhusbandsometimespickyouupforlunch?Ithinkhecansqueezethatin.Whenhedoes,besurethatyoukisseachotherin

frontofeveryoneelseonthelipsfornotlessthan25minutes.Telltheworldandyourbossthatyoureahappilymarriedwoman!

Lucylefthappythatday.AndsodidI.Becauseofher,Iknewtherewashopeforhumanity.


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Hes got the bubbling

joy that corporatefolks who work formoney and cars andhouses will never

know. Because hesforgotten himself.And loves God.


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SM I LE M ORE OFTEN

ImetGilbertlastweek.Letmedescribehimtoyou.Hesatotallyillogical,more-or-lessinsane,slightly

derangedguywhodistributesourinspirationalpublicationsinthefarawayislandofMaasin,Leyte.

1) HesgotthemakingsofamotorcrosschampionOnhismotorbike,Gilbertwhizzesthroughtheislands

30barrios,distributingGodsWord,throughscorchingsun,torrentialrainsandmuddyroads.

2) HesgotthestrengthofanOlympianweightlifterHehand-carriesmorethanathousandKERYGMA

copies!Athousand!Infact,ifyouhappentoseeGilbertzoomingbyonhisbike,youwontseehimatall.Youlljustseeamountainheapofmagazinespassby.

3) HesaloverofGodThisistheneurosispart.Becauseheisntpaidwith

salaries, perks, bonuses and benets. Instead, his reward issimplyanidea.The idea that hes being used by God to deliverHis love to hungry hearts.


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BecauseGilbertispermanentlysunburnedfromhis

missiontrips,histeethshineeverytimehesmileswhichisabout99%ofthetime.(Itoldyouourvolunteershavetobeslightlyderanged.)

Youknowwhat?Hes got the kind of smile Ive not seenin a long time.Anditsnotbecauseofhistoothpaste,mindyou.Hes got the bubbling joy that people who sit on cushionedchairs in front of giant TV sets will never know. Hes got the

bubbling joy that corporate folks who work for money and carsand houses will never know.

Becausehesforgottenhimself.AndlovesGod.Bytheway,Gilbertisntalone.Wehaveone-thousand

crazyvolunteerswhodosuchinsanethings,makingKERYGMAthemostwidely-readCatholicinspirationalmagazineinAsia!

Butenoughofthegoodnews.Ivegotbadnewsaswell.Werebroke!(Thespiritiswillingbutthewalletis

weak.)Becausewevevirtuallygivenawayinspirationalmagazinesmanytimesinour11-yearhistory,wevedrained our nances dry. Unless help comes, we cant

continueproclaimingGodslovetothefarthestcornersofthiscountry.WhatdoIneednow?Peoplewhomaynotbethe

typewhohoponmotorbikesandspreadGodsWordinaremoteisland,butwho believe in our mission and are willingto support this mission nancially.

LikeGilbert,Iminvitingyoutoforgetyourself.

SMILE MORE OFTEN


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BemyMISSIONPARTNER!Sharealovegiftevery

yeartotheLordforthesuprememissionofspreadingGodsWordtothespirituallythirsty.AndlikeGilbert,getrewardedbytheideathat YOU are being used by God todeliver His love to hungry hearts.

Andyoullbesurprised.Smilingmoreoftenmaybeeasierthanyouthink.

P.S.FormoreinformationonhowtobemyMISSIONPARTNER,pleasecall/fax/emailShepherdsVoicePublicationsatTel:(632)4117874to77,Fax:(632)[email protected]


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00

I consider those times

my greatest moments.Not my books.Not my organizations.Not my songs.

Not my preaching.But my love.


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0

D EFI N E YOUR GREATEST

ACH EI VEM EN TS

Myfavoritepastimeisspendingadayinabookstore.Intellectually,itinvigoratesme.Emotionally,itrefreshesme.

Spiritually,itinspiresme.And nancially, it saves me money! Because I dont

havetobuythebooksIread.Ijustreaditinthestore!(Shhhhhh.Canwekeepthisourlittlesecret?)

SomewhereinthebookstoreistheBestsellersList.Ilikelookingatthat,too,becauseitgivesmeanideaofthepopulartrendsinsociety,thethoughtsthatfuelpeoplesmindsandactions.

Butrecently,Icanembarrassed,tolook,atthislist.Becausemynameregularlyappearsonit!(Peoplemightcatchmelookingatthatlistandsay,

Gosh,Boisreallyvain.Helikesreadinghisnameupthere.)

Nowdontgetmewrong.IconsideritanachievementthatIhavewrittenbest-sellingbooks.Imnotashamed


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ofthat.InthesamewaythatIconsiderhavingmyarticle

publishedinReaders Digest anicefeatherinmycap.OrbeingabletopreachGodsWordalloverthisplanet.OrwritingforthenumberoneCatholicinspirationalmagazineinAsiaforthepast11years.OrhelpingstartdynamicorganizationssuchasAnawim, andShepherdsVoice,andLightofJesusCommunityanditsCounselingCenter. Orcomposingworshipmusicthroughthepast22

years.Theyreniceachievements,yes.ButImsorry,theyrenotmygreatestachievements.DoyouwanttoknowwhatImreally proudof?Heretheyare:WhenIvisitmy82-yearoldfather,andjustsitbeside

himandholdhishandtenderly.Andbecausehehaslostmostofhislanguageskills,wedonttalkmuch.Instead,wesmile,touch,laugh,embraceandenjoyeachotherpresence.

That,myfriends,isoneofmygreatestachievements.AndwhenImbeatingdeadlines,verybusywriting

articlesonmycomputerandthenseemylittlesonplaying

on the oor. And I decide to leave my chair and sit on theoor with him. And I get a ball and roll it towards him. HegigglesandrollsitbacktowardsDaddy.AndIrollitbacktohim.Andherollsitbacktome.Yougettheidea.Iwaste35minutesofmypreciousexecutivetimeforsomethingthatotherswouldconsidercompletelyunproductive

DEFINE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS


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Butthistooisoneofmygreatestachievements.

Andafteralongday,Icatchmywifeslumpedbythecouch,tiredfromadayofhousechoresandIquietlystandbehindher,kissher,saythankyou,andgiveheralovingshouldermassage

ThatwouldbehighupinMyGreatestAchievementslist.

AndwhenIvisitfriends,orevenjustcallthemby

phoneorwritethemletters.Iconsiderthosetimesmygreatestmoments.They dene who I am.Notmybooks.Notmyorganizations.Notmysongs.Notmypreaching.Butmylove.


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Even when we

ounder and fall andstumble, Hell knowif we gave Him ourbest struggle.


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ALWAYS GI VE YOUR BEST

STRUGGLE

Ipreachinmyprayergroup.And every time I preach, I always nd three or four or

ve people in the audience who sleep through my talks.

Repeat:Everytime.ItdoesntmatterwhatIdo,whetherIcrackajoke,screamtillmylarynxdiesormurdersomeoneinthefrontrowitwillhavethesameeffectonthem:Zzzzzzzzz...Thatsright,theysnore.Infourvoices,noless.

Becausetheyrethesamepeoplewhoalwaysnap,Iknowthemquitewell.

LikeIknowtheirpermanentseatingarrangementin

thegathering.AndIknowexactlywheneachonewillfallasleep.With

clockworkprecision,oneguysleepsatmythirdsentence,while the woman with the owery blouse signs off on myfth. The rest doze off the moment I enter the stage. (I getparanoidsometimes.DoIreallylookthatboring?)

Ialsoknowtheirfavoritesleepingpostures.


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Thereareonlytwomajoronesreally.Themostpopular

iswhatIcalltheWet Look. Aftertheheadbobsupanddown for a while, it nally tilts forward. Count ten secondsand drool ows liberally from chin to lap or chin tooor. Because of this, I limit my talks to 45 minutes, max.Anythinglongerthanthatandtheentireaudiencewouldneedknee-highbootstogohome.

Thesecondmostpopularsleepingposition,IcallHallelujah Forever.Thistime,theheadistiltedwayback,andgloriouslythemouthiswideopen.Thesamewayamouthopenswhenaworld-classtenorissingingthenal jah of Handels Hallelujah.Exceptthisonewontstop. His orice is so wide, I can tell you his entire dentalhistory from 20 feet away. Three molars lled, one root-canalledandamildcaseofgingivitis.IfIgetanynearer,Icangiveyouanendoscopyreport.

ButlestyouthinkImangryatthem,IwanttosaythatIreallyadmiretheirstruggletocomedespitetheirobviousexhaustion.Firstofall,theyrealoyalbunch.Theyrepresenteveryprayermeeting!(Physically,atleast.)GodknowstheyretiredandHehonorsthestruggletheyre

goingthroughtobethere.BecausewhenImtired,Itoosometimesfallasleepinmydailyprayers.Whenmywifecatchesme,IjusttellherthatIpracticeaverydeepkindofmeditationwhereIrestintheGodspresence.Shedoesntbuyit.

Butcuriously,IthinkmyGoddoes.BecauseHehasntthrownalightningrodinmydirectionyet.IbetHeeven

laughsatmyWet Look orHallelujah Forever posture. I

ALWAYS GIVE YOUR BEST STRUGGLE


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guessHealsohonorsmystruggletopraydespitemy

exhaustionandthatstruggleofminereallypleasesHim.WehaveafunnyGod.WehaveaGodthatdemandsthatwegivethebest

toHim.Butifthebestwecangiveisfaultyandweak,Heaccepts what we give to Him anyway and transforms itto become the best. Even when we ounder and fall andstumble,HellknowifwegaveHimourbeststruggle.

Hellknow.AndHelllaughwithyouandtellyoutostruggle

again.

P.S.Bytheway,Iveovercomemyparanoia.ThesepeoplesleepnotbecauseImboring.Theysleepbecause,likeMahatmaGandhi,Imaverypeacefulhumanbeing,andconsequently,haveastrangecalmingeffectonothersMwahahahaha


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If you dont learn how

to say no to all themyriad of options lifeoffers you, youll notbe able to focus on His

specic missionfor your life.


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LEARN TO SAY N O

SOM ETI M ES

Canyoubringatiny packagetomyfamilyinManila?Noproblem!IsaidtothepetiteFilipinainfrontof

me.

ThishappenedmanyyearsagoonapreachingtripinEuropewhenIstilldidntknowabouttheBalikbayan1Phrase Dictionary.Init,thetermtinypackagemeansanyobjectinthecreateduniversewhosesizerangeisanywherebetweenapeanuttoaplanet.

WhenIarrivedattheairport,hertiny packagewaswaitingforme:asuitcasethatwasalittlebitsmallerthan

theairportitself.SorryBo,shesaidsheepishly,steppingoutofher

suitcasesshadow,Ithoughtitwastiny.Butitkeptgrowingbiggerandbiggerandbigger

Wow.Itsmiraculous.Shethenhandedmeanenvelopejustincaseyou

haveexcessbaggageandleftmeasquicklyasawoman

1refers to a Fil ipino mig rant visit in g h is hom eland


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runningawayfromarapist.Iopeneditanddiscovered

tendollarsinit.Iholleredbackather,Willthismultiplymiraculously,too?

WhenIcheckedinhersuitcase,trueenough,theticketingguytoldmeIneededtopayexcessbaggage.Holding the ten dollars with trembling ngers, Iaskedhowmuchitwouldcost.Whenheshowedtheastronomical gure to me, I had a paranormal experience

rightthereandthen:Ifeltmysoulleavemybodyforafewseconds.

WhenIcameto,IinquiredascalmlyasIcould,Doesthispricealsoincludethepurchaseoftheplane?OrdoIgettheplaneandownallthepilotsandstewardessesaswell?

TheguylaughedandaskedifIhadacreditcard.ItoldhimIhadapricelesssoulandwonderedifI

couldsellthattohim.Thatexperiencetaughtmeaveryimportantlessonin

life:Learntosaynosometimes.Likeyesterday,Ireceivedteninvitationstopreach.

Theseinvitationscomedailythroughemailandsnailmail

andphonecalls.Asmuchasthispainsme,Isaynoto90%oftheseinvitations.

OhhowIlovetopreach!Everyday,ifpossible.ButifIsayyestoalloftheseinvitations,Iwontbeabletoseemywifeandchildanymore!OrIwontbeabletowriteforKERYGMA.OrvisitAnawim.Orteachmylittle

Community,Light of Jesus.

LEARN TO SAY NO SOMETIMES


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Ilearnedaveryimportantprinciple:Saying no is

really saying a bigger yes to what God wants me to do.Hey,therereamillionthingsyoucando.ButwhatdoesGodwantforyourlife?Ifyoudont

learnhowtosaynotoallthemyriadofoptionslifeoffersyou,youllnotbeabletofocusonHisspecic missionforyourlife.

Question:Doyouhaveexcess baggage inyourlife?

Becareful.Youmayenduppayingforitwithyourpricelesssoul.

Learntosaynosometimes.Youryesdependsonit.


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Dont hide.

Dont pretend.Dont be someone else.Be you.


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EN JOY W H O YOU ARE

Letmetellyouoneofthegreatestmysteriesoftheworldwhenawomanputsonblush-on,mascara,eyebrowpencil,eyeliner,eyeshadow,eyelashes,lipstick,lipgloss,toner,powderandthenturnstoherhusbandandasks,Honey,doIlooknatural?

Nowtellme,howdoesahusbandanswerthatwithoutbeing hit on the head by inanimate ying objects?

Hey,Imnotagainstmakeup.Ithinkitboilsdowntoinnerattitude:Byputting

makeup,areyoucoveringstuffthatyoureashamedof?Orexpressingthebeautythatyoubelieveisyou?

NowbeforeIgiveyouadviceoneyelinertechniques,

howtohighlightyourcheekbonesandwhatvarioushuesofblush-onyoucanuseforyourskincolor,letmetellyouaboutmysisterswedding.

Irememberstandinginfrontofthealtar,besidethegroom eagerly waiting for his bride. When she nallyappearedandstartedwalkingdowntheaisle,Inoticedthatmywould-bebrother-in-lawsuddenlyenteredintoacatatonicstate.Hiseyeshadthisblankstare,hismouth


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ajar, his body motionless, until I snapped my nger in

frontofhisface.Shakingofftheshock,heswallowedhardandasked

meaquestionIwishedIhadrecordedforhisfuturechildrenandgrandchildrentohear.

Hemumbled,Issheuhyoursister?Ibitmylip.Idontknow.Shehassomuchpaint,er,

I mean, makeup on... I nally shrugged and told him,

Whenshecomescloser,justaskhername.YoumaybewonderingwhoamongmysistersIm

referring to since I have ve of them. For the sake of mysafety,thatinformationshallbekeptinasecretvaultthatcanonlybeopenedaftermydeath.

Iremembermyownwedding.WhenIsawMaroweontheaisle,Ifellinlovewithher

evenmore.Becauseherbeautywasntdistortedbythemakeup.Rather,itsimplyemphasizedthebeautythatwasalreadythere,likeanexquisitepictureframethatdidntdistractfromitsgorgeouspainting.

CanInowshiftgears?Sorry,thisarticleisntaboutmakeup.(Illreservemy

eyelinerandblush-ontechniquesforanotherissue.)Thisarticleisaboutenjoyingwhoyouare.AboutbeingyouandcelebratingGodsbeautiful

creation.Sowhatifyouretoothin,toostout,tootall,tooshort,

tooround,toorectangular,toohexagonical?

ENJOY WHO YOU ARE


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Whenmywifewasachild,shewasteasedas

headlightsbyherclassmatesbecauseofherhumongouseyes.Andshewouldcrybucketsoftears,wonderingwhyGodmadeherthatway.

Twenty years later, in my ofce, a young woman camein.Immediately,Inoticedherlovelyroundeyes.Iwassmitten.ThankGodforheadlights.

Donthide.Dontpretend.Dontbesomeoneelse.

Beyou.Behappy.Live!


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I know that on planet

earth, there are dayswhen God doesnt blessus with what wereasking for. Because

He knows that thosevery things will makeus sick.


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SEE YOUR FATH ERS TEARS

My throat today feels like its on re.I guess I preached too muchmy voice nally went on

indenite strike.Sothere.Imfeverishandcoughingthick,sticky,

yellow-greenishphlegm.(Myeditorcrossedout16other

adjectivesIwroteaboutthephlegm.)Management-labornegotiationsarenowgoingonbetweenmyvoiceandI.Itsbargainingforlesserworkinghours.Andakinderboss.

Youknowwhat?Beingsickiscrummy.Icantgooutofthehouse.Icantindulgeinmyextremesports.(Youknowhow

athleticIam.Ilovesky-diving,rock-climbing,deep-sea

divingandbungeejumping.Youknow,aggressivelypressingtheremotecontrolandwatchingthesethingsonTV.)

ButtheresonethingthatIreeeeeallymisswhenImsick.

EmbracingthepeopleIlove.Embracingmywife.


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Embracingmyson.

BecauseIdontwantthemtogetmygerms,Ijustwatchthemfromadistance.

Thathurts.Alot.Letmetellyouwhatmyalmosttwo-yearoldBenedict

didawhileago.Iwasaheapofdisheveledmess,lyingdownonthe

living room oor (its much cooler here), when the tiny boysawme.Fromafar,helookedatmequizzically,hisroundeyes narrowing. He then poised his chubby pointer ngerintheair,andhetoddler-sprintedtowardsme.

Mysonthenpointedtosomethingnewonmyface:myfour-day-oldmoustache.Andhestartedgiggling!Yousee,mymoustachedoesntgrowinthemiddlepart,butonlyonthesides.EvenBenedictsawmyresemblancetoGhengisKhan.

Believeme,everythinginmejustwantedtoembracethelovableelfinfrontofme.HowIwantedtojustlaughandwrapmyarmsaroundhim.

ButIcouldnt.

Ididntwanthim togetsick.Sowithmuchpaininmyheart,Itoldhismothertogethimawayfromme.

AndallIcoulddowasstareasBenedictwaswhiskedaway, his eyes quickly lling with tears, pleading to me,his tiny hand reaching for me, whimpering at rst, andthensobbing,DadaDadaDada.Ifeltmyheart

wasbeingcrushedinside!Iwhisperedapromisetohim.

SEE YOUR FATHERS TEARS


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Benedict,adaywillcomewhenyoullhaveallofDada

youwant.Naturally,hedidntunderstandme.Inmyanguish,ItalkedtoGod.Lord, is this how You feel

sometimes?BecauseIknowthatonplanetearth,therearedays

whenGoddoesntblessuswithwhat

you have the power to create love

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