Chapters of Life

Raymond Balaod

Chapters of Life: Tales for Everyone

PHILIPPINES

CHAPTERS OF LIFE: TALES FOR EVERYONE Š 2018 Raymond Balaod Published and distributed by Paulines Publishing House Daughters of St. Paul 2650 F.B. Harrison Street 1302 Pasay City, Philippines E-mail: edpph@paulines.ph Website: www.paulines.ph All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

Cover design: Ann Marie Nemenzo, FSP 1st printing 2018 ISBN: 978-971-590-867-2

at the service of the Gospel and culture

Contents PREFACE Family Picture Immersion The Car Watcher Boxes of Gold A Friend in Jail Raising a Chick Be Good Anyway Tofu God’s Big Hand We Are the Author Happiness on the Cross The Lamp and the Electricity Mother Lione The Two Cities Best Friends Sneak Generosity Two Friends Message Relay

5 7 10 15 27 31 36 39 45 49 53 55 61 63 66 73 80 84 88

The Colony of Ants The Sandal Maker The Small and Big Hands The Book The Nuns and the Street Kids

90 96 101 105 109

Preface Every person has a story to tell. The past is both the interrelatedness of pain and joy, the present is laden with learnings, and the future overwhelms with surprises and discoveries. These are the three chapters of the story of our lives that constitute the simple yet complex human reality. We cried over the failures we did in the past and rejoiced over its victories. Indeed, we have pensively reflected its lessons in our present situation so that we might not fall again to the same mistakes we did in the past. We move forward to the promise of things yet to come, hoping that everything will be fine.

To put it another way, Fr. Joseph Galdon, SJ beautifully said; A poet once described human life as “Three Chapters— the past, the present and the yet to be. The past is finished and laid away. The present we read day by day. The future is locked from sight and God keeps the key.” St. Augustine said that we always have to trust in God—trust the past to the mercy and forgiveness of God, trust the present to his love for us, and trust the future to his care for us. In those three chapters of life which can be so full of pain and problems at times, we need to be constantly reminded of God’s mercy, of his loving forgiveness, of his deep understanding of us as our Father, our Creator, and our Savior. No mistakes of ours, no error, no failure can separate us from God’s love for us, if only we turn to him in love, confess our sins and seek his forgiveness. Life can be pretty miserable 5

sometimes, but if we trust in God we have to stop feeling negative about ourselves and our lives.1 For this reason, the chapters of our lives must be built on the foundation of trusting and abandoning our lives to God who was, who is, and who will be there for us always. Ever since the beginning of time, God has been fathering us through his covenantal love, making us as his covenant partner. Most of the time, though, we are unfaithful. Yet, God continually offers his love and mercy upon us. That’s why He is always present in our lives and in return, we must make Him the center of our lives.

Indeed, the stories in this book somehow mirror the chapters of our lives filled with struggles, pains, sufferings, and brokenness, but which with God, may have been mixed with happiness, contentment, and victories. These stories help us to reminisce our past, savor our present, and look forward to the future with God as our companion, our compass in our journey and our final destination. God is the reason of our existence, and so it is right to trust Him in all that we are and do. Furthermore, at the end of every story is a prayer that aids us to reflect God’s superabundant love for us in all the circumstances of our lives.

1.

Joseph Galdon, SJ. Laughing Christ: Collected Reflection of Joseph Galson, SJ (Quezon City: Jesuit Communication Foundation, Inc., 2008), 89.

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1 Family Picture “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13:44

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here was once a man named Lemiel who greatly valued time with his family. He would make sure he had time for them after every work. During weekends, he would usually bring them to the movies, and then they would dine out together.

One day, he was transferred to another place as part of his promotion. He didn’t want to be away from his family, so he brought them along with him.

A new place meant new adjustments. Part of it was finding new friends which he also did.

Sadly, however, his new job and his newfound friends sundered him from his family.

As a result, his family missed those exciting days they spent together as now they could hardly do the things they used to do as a family. Gone were those days.

Then came the birthday celebration of Lemiel’s eldest son, Rondel. He was the one most affected by his father’s drifting away from the family. Fortunately, Lemiel was present that day.

Rondel was rejoicing. Surprisingly though, Lemiel received a gift from the birthday boy when he should be the one giving him a birthday gift. He was perplexed.

After the celebration, all were already tired and so was Lemiel that he forgot to open the gift.

One week later, he remembered the gift and opened it. He was astonished when he saw its content which was a family 7

picture. He looked intently at the picture and some time later, he noticed that he was not there. He looked at it again but he could not find himself there. He just saw his family whose faces were shining with happiness. He tried to ignore it, but in his bed, he tossed and turned— later on his back, and then on his side, and now on his belly. He could not sleep thinking about the picture. “Why was I not there?” He was restless. His heart felt the loneliness. He felt that he was already away from his family. Then he felt the pain in his heart—a pain that could only be healed by the presence of his family. But he was the one who made this pain worse. Without noticing it, the tears slowly fell on his cheeks. He realized that Rondel wanted him to know that he was their valued and precious gift, that they were longing for his presence, because he had slowly drifted away from the family.

“My God, what have I done to my family? Please! Forgive me!” Lemiel uttered words of regret.

Even though Rondel was already sleeping, he woke him up just to ask forgiveness and say thank you, “I’m very sorry, my son! I hope you’ll forgive me. Thank you also for reminding me of my mistakes!” He hugged him tightly and lovingly.

Rondel smiled gently and said, “You’re welcome, dad!” And he hugged him, too.

Finally, after that dramatic turn of events, Lemiel made sure that he would give all his best time for his family despite the demands of his work and the pleasure that he would have had by being with his friends. Now, all the members of Lemiel’s family were already present in their family picture.

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Prayer Loving Father, You are the source of our strength and courage.

Pardon us whenever we fail to recognize Your presence in our lives and in our loved ones.

Because of this, we begin neglecting our prayer and our family as we spend our time with worldly pleasures.

We choose to spend it on the things that separate us from You and our family.

We humbly ask you to remind us always to spend much of our time with You in prayer and with our family.

This we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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9 god’s big hand “That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.” – John 21:7

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oung, pious, intelligent, rigorous, idealistic, obedient, and faithful - this was how Sr. Melville’s confreres would portray her. She was practically excelling in all she did among the young-professed nuns.

When she was a child, her parents earnestly taught her how to be competitive and to excel in all she does. And so from her kindergarten to college years, she was always at the top of her class. As a result, she was always praised for her victories.

Indeed, she didn’t experience failure ever since.

Angel Methel was the guardian angel of Sr. Melville. And so, he knew her very well “from head to toe.” Indeed, he was very happy that Sr. Melville had grown up competent and an achiever.

However, there was one thing that made Angel Methel anxious. It was about Sr. Melville’s passion for excellence.

He was afraid that someday she would experience great and serious failures. How would she manage to overcome it?

Since Angel Methel couldn’t directly intervene, he reflected earnestly and consulted his experienced senior confreres who helped him find a solution.

One day, Sr. Maribelle, Sr. Melville’s superior, called her into her office. “Sr. Melville, the local council recently held a meeting and one of their agenda is sending one nun for the mission to Africa,” Sr. Maribelle disclosed.

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“And they have chosen you. However, you will first be immersed with the native in the Island of Nicao. In this regard, I give you one week to discern over the matter. Then, I will ask for your response later,” she concluded.

“Yes, Sr. Maribelle!” She joyfully replied. She had been longing for this opportunity since she pronounced her vows.

A week later, Sr. Maribelle asked her about the proposal.

Without any doubt and with conviction, she confidently said, “Yes, Sr. Maribelle, I am available for that mission.”

“Thanks be to God for your generosity, Sr. Melville,” Sr. Maribelle uttered as she hugged her.

And so, Sr. Melville began her mission. Basically, she first observed the needs of the indigenous people. After some time, she discovered it—they needed education. She thus taught them the basics.

Surprisingly, the indigenous people hardly understood even the basic lessons she taught. And thus, Sr. Melville was terribly disappointed. She didn’t expect this failure so she was discouraged and felt stressed out. Because of this, she ended up in the hospital.

Sr. Maribelle had to reassign her to another undertaking out of her concern for the younger sister. A month later, Sr. Melville was ready to teach in their school at the slum area. At the beginning, she was enjoying her work. But a few weeks later, the students became raucous and uncontrollable.

Not surprisingly, she got sick because of too much stress. Again, Sr. Maribelle had to reassign her.

Her new assignment was in the hospital as a counselor.

Listening to the suffering patients was a noble job. But, Sr. Melville was not used to hear failures. Thus she struggled in her new apostolate. She was practically the outlet of other’s sufferings but she failed to unload it or redivert it in a creative way. So one day, she got sick.

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When she was already well, she wasn’t given a new assignment because this time, she left the religious life. Her reason was simply about failings. She thought she wouldn’t become an effective and good nun because she always failed.

So, Sr. Maribelle could not help but respect her decision.

Back home as she was strolling in the garden, she heard a soft voice saying, “Why did you leave me, Sr. Melville?”

She heard the voice each day for a week but she didn’t listen to it.

However, the voice was persistent. And so she listened and conversed with it.

“Who are you?,” Sr. Melville asked.

“I am your God. Why did you leave me? Since the beginning, I have chosen you to be my servant. If you only allow me, allow my BIG HANDS to do the rest, you will not leave me. Failure is part of life. I know you cannot do everything with your own strength and rely only on your small hands. But, if you entrust everything to my BIG HANDS, you will not leave me!”

When Sr. Melville was about to reply to God, someone suddenly and frantically knocked at the door of her room. She was awakened from her deep sleep. She got up and opened the door.

“Sr. Melville! We are already late! We have an apostolate now with the children,” Sr. Merelle, her companion in the apostolate, told her with a sense of urgency in her voice.

“Yes, Sr. Merelle. I will be ready after thirty minutes,” Sr. Melville assured her.

She was sweating profusely because she couldn’t believe that she was just dreaming. She then went to their apostolate rejoicing and full of fervor because of her dream.

She learned to let go and let God do the rest.

And finally, Angel Methel watched her and he graciously smiled as he said, “Mission accomplished!”

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Prayer Gracious Father, we praise your name and we ask pardon for all the sins we have committed. We thank you for your great love for us and for sustaining us in everything. We humbly ask you to bless us and to give us the grace to accept failures in life as part of our growth in our faith and love for you. We entrust all these to you through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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