I Take Off the Mask

I’ve always considered writing to be a gift. It’s a gift that allows me to connect to the world and to express myself. Being an introvert, I consider these things to be very important to me. Later, I have also realized that although writing is part of my mission in life, I should not treat it as an obligation. Neither should regard it as a right I should be entitled to. More than anything, I see it now as a God-given privilege. Even if I don’t earn much from it, and even if I don’t get famous for it, it is a wonderful privilege to write. When I consider writing as a privilege, I remember its essence as a gift. A gift is something to be grateful for and and something to be taken care of with joy.

I recently found a very interesting book by Charles Peguy titled "The Portal of the Mystery of Hope". The book is an English translation of Charle's Peguy's long poem "“The Gateway of the Mystery of the Second Virtue”. It came at a time when I was reflecting about hope and needed hope myself. This poem on hope allowed me to realize many things - how we often take hope for granted and how much we really need it in our journey here on earth. The world today is in despair and these are desperate times. In our despair, we lose sight of the good things that can still happen and the blessings God is still giving us each day. May we pray for hope and may we find it like a little child who is not afraid to entrust oneself upon her Father's arms. Here are some excerpts from the poem about hope: "...My three virtues, says God. The three virtues, my creatures. My daughters, my children. Are themselves like my other creatures. Of the race of men. Faith is a loyal W...

  The Prayer of a Child The prayer of a child is often answered. It is answered because it is pure. It is answered because it has no fear. It does not think about the past, it does not worry about the future. It is not ashamed to express the truth, it is not ashamed to express how it feels. The prayer of a child goes right up to heaven, unto the ears of God who hears it, because it wants to be heard. The prayer of a child is answered even before it has been uttered. It was answered when the child started to pray with her heart.

My heart was touched by God today.   His touch, his word, is like a fresh wind blowing upon my heart.  There was a certain peace that covered me, calming my nerves, giving me strength, giving me the courage to face whatever life might bring upon me. For the first time in a long time, I was not afraid.  My joy and my peace were not dependent anymore on outside circumstances that I could not control. God is in control. And faith, is a very precious gift.  I felt good, I saw beauty again, like I was in love. I’ve read tons of self-help books before, yet I remained stressed and unhappy, always preoccupied with something – a goal. Only to be always frustrated by not reaching that goal. I saw how futile all my strivings were. I didn’t want to live like that anymore. I’ve decided not to live like that anymore. I will not delay my joy, my peace. I used to think we cannot choose happiness, that only hypocrites say that. But now I’ve found a way.  We choose happiness when...

Why Is My Cross Heavier? Have you ever felt those times when the cross you’re carrying seems heavier than it should be? Much heavier than you can bear? Much heavier than the crosses other people are carrying? In fact, why carry your heavier cross? Our crosses it seems, vary greatly in the burden and the difficulties they inflict upon us. Why do some crosses appear to be far easier? And why do some appear to be so huge and heavy, our trust upon God’s wisdom and justice is already shaken to its very core? We see rich, beautiful people whose only problem it seems, are the next orders they’re going to pick from the menu. And then we see beggars who don’t even have a place to sleep at when night falls. We see celebrities gambling loads of money in a casino. And then we see parents doing back-breaking work day after day, just so they could send their children to school. We see politicians squandering the wealth of the nation, and getting credit for the small portion of funds spent in useles...

 A child is having a seizure, he foams at the mouth and gnashes his teeth, he is thrown to the ground and lays as rigid as a rock. Meanwhile, the disciples of Jesus gather around him, praying, laying their hands and shouting words of affirmation, trying to cast away the evil spirit that has possessed the child. Still, the child rolled around, foaming at the mouth. The disciples couldn’t drive away the malady. After all the miracles they’ve seen through Jesus, after all the miracles they have performed themselves, they stand defeated and confused. Just then, Jesus arrives and is quickly approached by the boy’s father, asking for the healing of his son. Jesus asks the man if he believes. The man answers, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Jesus commanded the spirit to depart, and at once, the boy was healed! After the crowd had left, the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t drive out the evil spirit. Jesus replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” But wasn’t ...

Growing old? At 30? Oh no! I used to believe myself to be young looking, someone who is infact a LOT younger than my age. Now why the sudden feeling of growing old? Didn’t I believe myself to be timeless? Ageless? Isn’t growing old merely a product of the mind and of the many beliefs we have of aging? I still believe that my spirit remains intact and young, ageless and eternal. But as to my physical self, I must admit that I had been a bit negligent in taking care of it. I didn’t eat sufficient fruit and vegetable servings, forgot (or should I say intended to forget) taking my vitamin supplements, missed my workouts and routine exercises. Is it a wonder then that I feel easily worn out and out of strength? Anything that we do not give proper attention to eventually breaks and fades away, anything not utilized eventually loses its strength. We are not mere spirit that we must forget the vehicle we are using at the moment to perform our divine commission. We have our...