Rencontre: Life in Pieces

Mary Aileen Labios

Take a glimpse.

Life is a queer journey. A daredevil is of humans to experience life in its mysteries. We venture into life according to our purpose. We seek the depth of its abyss in accordance with how we verge the concept of it.

The reality is this: Life’s how we encounter it, how we overcome its pieces.

The peaceful rest of leaves as it touches the ground after its swift fall. The calm of seashells along the shore after a disastrous storm. A sound-sleeping baby after the last hymn of a lullaby. The still breeze soothes your body, rooting down through your soul. Through silence, scars, and tears also lies beneath a pungent desire of chaos— battling through human existence. Some are struggling, some are celebrating. A contrasting ideology knowing that life comes in both black and white, narrow and wide; made of various sides and various perceptions. The truth is, it is how we encounter it.

Throughout man’s existence, we ought to seek pieces in life. A piece of belongingness and approval. A piece of warmth and comfort. A piece of companionship, and camaraderie. A piece of serenity and tranquility. Man would spend all his hours looking for his piece in this world. Yet, there is still a feeling of thirst, a sense of hunger — they still crave for more.

The reality is this: Life’s how we encounter it, and how we overcome its pieces.

The highways taught us how to dance the mazurka on the streets. We bump into moments wherein you dream a lot, live a lot, and achieve a lot. We encounter life at its peak in the middle of joyous moments. The byways edify how we act when life gets tough—lurking in the shadows of sorrows, grieving. Some experienced being stabbed with people’s natural knife, the human’s tongue. Young ladies are victims of misconceptions. Some are whining about their imperfections. Both men and women are torn because of depression. One cannot just look someone in his eyes and says “he’s sad” — it is the art of diving deep into someone’s soul in order to understand the naked scars, tears, and insecurities hidden behind masks.

“Huwag matakot salubungin ang mga piraso ng buhay.” The more you encounter brokenness, the more you appreciate wholeness. The more you experience ache, the more you cherish happiness. The more the wound gets bigger, the more you learn how to heal. The more you have been cursed, the more you learn how to bless others. The more you have been hated, the more you learn to give love. The more you have been limited to go higher, the more you learn to grow deeper.

Take a glimpse. This is reality—a rencontre of life in its pieces. Life is how we encounter it, how we overcome its pieces. A lifelong journey it is of life to encounter and dwell in its pieces. Roger Crawford once said, “Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” Every spirit is struggling, from daylight to sundown. One eternity wouldn’t be enough to grasp the concept of it. Yet, how we perceive it depends on how we listen to its hymn, how we dance to its rhythm. Kaya huwag matakot salubungin ang mga piraso ng buhay.

Wilderness

Art by Nele Stephen Pacurib