Prayer Call

These past days have been laden with earth-shaking realities. Our earth is groaning, and in its quiet silence it has shown how alive it is by moving. Its natural shift dominoed into changing so many lives that went with its movement.

The knee-jerk response came two-pronged from my vantage point. Fear and hope. In the area, people trembled with fear and anguish and the outpouring of support was a salve to their aching, questioning spirits, especially for those who lost someone dear aside from their hard-earned home.

In spite of heavy traffic on the onset, the first weekend since the North-quake sent many responders to the affected areas, bearing goods to help relieve the victims of the calamity. The least reached were the hinterlands that found some of the volunteers braving the tricky slopes and slight tremors that would briefly test their resolve to bring help to those in the far-flung areas.

On our end, we had to coordinate with local volunteers who knew the areas mostly affected so we could send some assistance of food and water to families that were hard to reach.  With us were members of the Emergency Response Team of San Miguel Brewery Inc. and other volunteer employees. In spite of the bleary picture that first met our eyes we saw hope in the way people cooperated. We are grateful to the local governments of Bogo City, Tabogon and Borbon for their readiness to help us help others.

The youth, whose agility made climbs easier, trekked to the top where houses clung to the slopes.  With the joy in the eyes that met us, one could also see tears brimming with reprieve. That was enough compensation for the climb, volunteers would share. There was hunger, not for food and water alone but for the company of humanity. That sense of feeling that one is not alone.

Through all these things we are brought to reflection. It seems like the earth has mimicked the shaking our country is experiencing.

We are being tested at various fronts. Our government is struggling with the cleansing that needs to be done in the system. Finger-pointing needs to transcend into mature surrender and resolve to right things. But again, this is better said than done. The consistent bullying in the West Philippine Sea is a blatant harassment that keeps us clinging to the clutches of tolerance.  We are in a quandary to retaliate, not because our artillery is nil, but because we may ignite a worldwide conflagration in the process. Assuming, our allies will take our side, and not just sit on heir heels like some had to do in other wars against other nations.

Just as the earth has moved quietly after all the pile driving, and reactions to the changes in the environment, we are afraid of that aplomb that will affect not just our country but humanity in general. For the earth is connected underground, and on it, the sea of pride, deceit, and entitlement pervade.

What can we do to address all our issues. I see no human solution. There are attempts to correct and initial moves to better things, but they are immediately swallowed by confusion. For greed, pride, power and self-preservation will continue to rule hearts, unless it is the heart that changes.

That is the only solution that I can see for the moment. And that total overhaul will greatly depend on faith, and grace.

So let us get on our knees, now.