I'm supposed to be minding my papers now since it's our finals week in school. But I just can't concentrate with all these serious horrific life-threatening events happening outside the four walls I'm contained in. It happened when I was in camp last Monday. My mom called me up saying, "Do you know there was a hostage-taking in Quirino Grand Stand?" I told her "no" and thought what about it, it has happened before. Massacres rise here and there. They happen anywhere and everywhere. Little did I know that this mishap had several after-effects, numerous lessons and humongous hidden truths.
I saw it on TV just today that Hongkong is really angry with the Philippines, against the Philippine government. They are rallying in the streets at this very minute. There are Hongkong employers showing their rage against the country by hurting Filipina domestic helpers living under their roof. Some even burnt these helpless females with acids on their faces.
I know there are a lot of people to blame. Probably its the Manila local government, headed by Alfredo Lim, who unreasonably arrested the brother of the gunman. It could also be PNoy who was not able to exercise his power in negotiating with the suspect. Or the head of the NBI or the SWAT team that failed to train our cops well. This list could go on and on, but what good is it for you and me that we continue blaming them? Will it soften the friction between Hongkong and the Philippines? Will it improve the state of our SWAT team at this very minute? Will our anger change the government overnight? No. Our frustrations won't lead the country anywhere, except down. I'm not saying that we should start thinking positively and forget about the event, nor am I saying that they did not do any wrong. What I'm saying is that THERE IS NO USE FOR THE BLAME AND THE SHAME, for the FRUSTRATIONS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS. Will they bring back time? Will they change your citizenship?
There's little that our hands and mouths can do at this point in time. And this "little" can result to a pretty big result if we remember to do it. You know what it is?
PRAY.
Pray for our president, that he be given the wisdom to handle this trial and deal with the Hongkong government. The greater the power of a person, the greater his responsibility, the greater the intensity of prayers and support needed.
Pray for the Philippine leaders, that light will reveal darkness, that good will overcome evil in the system.
Pray for God's forgiveness (and also that of the Hongkong nation).
Pray for the unity of the Philippine nation to repent, desire change and seek the Lord.
May God have mercy on this country.
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYER.
I will listen to what the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints -
but let them not return to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
- Psalm 85:8-9
this incident has left a deep scar to our nation. our lives have not been the same since it happened. we still talk about the incident, about how things should have been and about things would have been if we had our way. this is the same sentiment wherever we go around the country. it is nice to hear something 'new' for a change from this blog. we Christians claim we believe in a sovereign and wise God. and yet when things don't go as we desire them to be, we are just as quick to blame people (in authority) and perhaps the sin in the world around us. although i think it's great to seek out areas of improvement, the tone of our criticisms, of our complaints carries the weight of the bitterness that we have been harboring for every event that 'went wrong' in our lives, bitterness towards man and worse, towards God. in the midst of such 'unfortunate events' where goes our confession? where is the faith in our God?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Good point!
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