A sober message to a friend in California

I was distracted while reading the morning paper the other day. Instead of mine, the voice of a young friend in California made an appraisal in my head. I recall, she had me listen to her breakup story and how she felt mad at the world and her existence the other night. Via messenger, I was a little thankful she’s still alive right now and not fine, at least I know she didn’t end her life.

“She has a point,” I told myself while trying to finish Fr. Roy Cimagala’s Truth only through God. What would be the best reason to live when the world is in chaos: different claims on which is the true religion, relative understanding of truth, artificial intelligence in technology and perhaps the other source of life in the near future is killing kinship.

These are just some of my friend’s questions. I knew I could discuss them with her for a short time. However, I couldn’t help but reflect and answer them first myself. Thanks to Fr. Roy’s column, he concluded: “The quest for truth is primarily a religious concern before it is a human task.” That line was truly helpful.

I have been this questions way back during my Philosophy years. I was young and so fresh in the course at that time that questions like my friend's were so easy to label in different theological and philosophical theories. Now, I’m breathing in a different year, different social issues, and a wider perspective in life’s principles.

I forgot many important terms in Philosophy but I could feel them familiar in daily mundane. For instance, to doubt the arrest of the new suspect in the killing of 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan, to analyze which etymologically came first between the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea, to believe in the interesting game of politics, and many more. These things in my head are just gnoseological process, as my teacher, Fr. Nilo, would say in his class.

Going back to my friend’s lemon in her fruitcake, what on earth are we waiting for if people around choose this madness a reason to exist? From personal desires, up to politics, and down to how it affects people in time, these things really press my head when daily news rings the bell of how the world goes about.

I wanted to drink a beer first before I share my opinion with my friend the next night we chatted. Since it was impossible for me personally to get one in the middle of the night, I told my friend in a sober way: “Just be a fool to what religiously good you believe in.”

Edmer John Caballes

Mandaue City