SLOW THINKING, AUGUST 1-31, 2026
"A tale was told of a Mongol leader having religious leaders of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam in his kingdom, do a debate, which ended with the Buddhist keeping silent, while the Christian and the Moslem were outdoing each other, quoting verses from the Bible and Koran, then singing and screaming their church songs. But all of them were by this time, drunk of fermented milk. Nobody converted, and the kingdom still practiced multiple faiths. Which makes one think: if we have to scream at the tops of our lungs for people to hear our beliefs, are our beliefs worth screaming of? The word says real faith is manifested by our deeds, by inclusivity, generosity, understanding, patience and humility. It is when we think we are better and holier than others, that our shame is exposed--amidst life's difficulties and challenges, people ignore the message because of the messenger. The messenger lacks credibility, who don't live as they preach, who can preach to crowds but neglect their family's needs, who is so active in church volunteerism but lazy and rebellious at home, who smiles and acts demure with the church brethren but gossips and fights with the neighbors next door. May we truly be people of our faith, and like our Savior and Lord, truly be people of goodwill and peace."
"The benefits of being not the number 1, is we always think that somebody else could be better, and we remain humble and teachable. While the champions develop the belief that they are the best, that wherever they go, they are the smartest, they are the greatest, even if they are the newbies, and they still haven't earned much experience or learned a lot with people and ways of doing, with a certain field, with a certain group or organization. And such temptation is too good and too attractive for the many smart and talented people these days: it's a big no-no to call them out, because they know better, they are the smartest and the greatest, they could do no wrong, and no one has the right to disturb their mental well-being or their belief in their own greatness. May we be careful of such thoughts and attitudes, because yes, we may always be the champion, but beyond that, there might be nothing else. While those not champions will always have something to grow into, to learn and develop more."
"Oftentimes, we need to check ourselves: if we are living out our principles and professed beliefs and convictions. Our Savior and Lord did not call attention to himself as a human, yet, are we? Our Lord and Savior was punished for calling out and exposing abuse, corruption, fraud, lies and hypocrisy, for bringing the truth to light, and for opening up people's minds to the right and humble way back to God. Yet the religious leaders felt threatened from their pedestalled and white-washed wealth-making syndicate, spread lies about Him until the end, and eventually murdered and slaughtered Him. Aren't we doing the same with the life and chance He is giving us today, stubbornly clinging on to the lies and the hypocrisy of our human idols, sweeping their clearly exposed and proven corruption away, dismissing these as fake news and persecution, while embracing their seemingly fancy yet incoherent rhetoric about what is right and wrong? May God have mercy on our souls; may we not waste our Saviour's words and sacrifice. May we be His ambassadors of truth, life, humility, fairness and right."
"Adults are just kids who lived..."
(And some of us over-dress or do corporate attire to get 'respected' but really, we're just doing 'dress-up Barbie', getting decked out in loud crayola box colors...
And some talk big, pretending to know-it-all, but really, sounding naive to those silently listening, who've been there, who've done that, in a seemingly and annoyingly overdone series of 'show-and-tell'...)
"Children are innocent, but these days many of their age are not. Many of them are cute and lovable, huggable and endearing, while others downright annoying and caustic. Many of them seem to be born of convenience, many born unplanned, but many more still prayed for and loved abundantly. Many people say they love them, but abandon them at the slight instance to the tutorship of gadgets and AI, and to the trappings of fashion, luxury, and fads. But many too love them endlessly, even at the expense of depriving their wants just so they learn empathy, listening, and patience. And in the Word today, they are the ultimate measure of humility. If we can be as humble as a child, who does not need to be put on a pedestal, but only needs validation that they exist and they matter, we can open our hearts to life's truths. If we can be as humble as a child, and not throw degrees and titles and our perceived weight around, then we will know how peaceful and good life is. When we put down our 'crowns', we learn how deeply rewarding it is to just be, to just bask in the presence of our Heavenly Father as manifested in creation and in the company of people who truly love us and respect us, who in turn shows us every step of the way that we matter, and that we are appreciated."
"The prayerful person is a hopeful person. No matter the downturns in life, the abuse, deprivation and neglect that others may bestow upon us; if we pray wholeheartedly, we remain hopeful. And even when our oppressors, our abusers, bullies and 'neglecters' go about their merry way, brazenly believing they have clean hands, we can still go on with life in peace, knowing we did our best, and we diligently fulfilled our mandate. Because yes, soon justice will come, our hard-earned efforts will bear fruit, and those who oppressed and ignored, those who thought they could take advantage and get away with it, will soon be meted with their comeuppance and just punishment."
"The enemy's influence on people is real. They bear fruit in thoughts and assumptions, prejudices and presumptions, opinions and judgements self-generated but not or already beyond what the Word says. They manifest in prideful actions, in behaviors that promote only the self, at the expense of others. But what's more real is the power and love of our God and Heavenly Father. May we always be guided, may we always be mindful and alert, and may we always be kept safe, provided for and protected."
"Looking at these words from a different angle, one remembers the message from the recent school spiritual exercise: we teachers are not teachers, but pedagogues (child caretakers). We only take care of our students, guide them in their learning journey, and lend a hand in their holistic development into becoming better people and citizens, responsible adults and future professionals. Because there is only One Teacher, and that is God. To fail students willfully, arbitrarily or without just cause, to show favoritism, to terrorize them and make them feel that we are the ultimate source of their knowledge, or that their entire future depends on the grade we give at the tip of our pens, is wrong, morally and spiritually. For the knowledge that we have is not even ours, not ones we can claim intellectual property rights to; but these are concepts, principles, formulas, practices, calculations, and solutions we have learned from those who mentored us. And just as in our personal lives we reflect whose child we are, and so may we also be in teaching and mentoring others, a reflection of the One True Teacher of us all."
"In an increasingly hostile world, wherein bullying and gaslighting seem to increase in intensity wherever--at school, at work, in the digital space, may we not forget that our Heavenly Father has ordained beings--unseen and tangible, to aid us and give us comfort. And even in our darkest and lowest moments, where life seems too overwhelming, and we feel the people around us start to abandon us and put us down, we always have hope and help: to guide us, lead us through, give us wisdom to do what is right, and perceive the breakthroughs and opportunities that our God has prepared for us."
"Knowledge and wisdom are proven by integrity and accountability. Indeed, what good are numerous honors and accolades, degrees, licenses and qualifications, if we can't even give a simple liquidation or accountability for every task or project, fund or budget, people or system entrusted with our management? And worse if we use delaying tactics, gaslighting or excuses to cover up our laziness and negligence, or try to shift blame? What good is a genius IQ, or 'five doctorates' (as what Rev. Fr. Besana constantly mentioned in last week's ARSE) if people do not perceive truth and transparency, humility, love, honesty and responsibility from us?"
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